iEx  IGtbrtB 


SEYMOUR  DURST 


'When  you  leave,  please  leave  this  hook 

Because  it  has  heen  said 
"Ever'thinQ  comes  t'  him  who  waits 

Except  a  loaned  hook." 


I 


Avery  Architectural  and  Fine  Arts  Library 
Gift  of  Seymour  B.  Durst  Old  York  Library 


JAY  IRVING  COLLECTION 


Digitized  by  the  Internet  Archive 
in  2014 


https://archive.org/details/roguesrogueriesoOOunse 


The  American  Neivs  Company,  Xew  York, 
Wholesale  Agents. 

JAY  IRVING  COLLECTION 


FUN  FOR  THE  HOME  CIRCLE! 


ISBtTMffS  M0HTHLT 

A  MAGAZINE  OF  RECREATION  AND  AMUSEMENT. 


This  Publication  is  intended  especially  for  the  Family  circle,  and 
nothing  is  ever  admitted  in  its  columns  that  would  prove  objection- 
able to  the  most  fastidious  taste,  or  tend  to  have  a  bad  influence 
with  the  young.  We  have  aimed  to  furnish  a  repast,  piquant  and 
relishing,  but  free  from  the  too  common  ingredients  of  profanity  and 
vulgarity.  It  is  a  journal  which  any  father,  husband  or  brother  can 
take  and  introduce  to  his  fireside  with  entire  confidence. 

Every  number  of  Merryman  will  contain  contributions  from  a 
large  corps  of  contributors,  embracing  many  of  the  most  talented 
and  popular  writers  of  the  day,  with  ehoice  selected  matter,  the 
whole  illustrated  with  numerous  beautiful  engravings  by  the  best 
artists.  We  are  constantly  introducing  new  and  attractive  features, 
so  that  we  can  give  only  an  imperfect  idea  of  its  contents  ;  we  may, 
however,  mention  some  special  items  which  have  proved  very  popular, 
and  which  we  shall  keep  up.    The  first  is  a  regular  series  of" 

ONE  HUNDRED  DOLLAR  PRIZE  PUZZLES! 

Greenbacks  to  that  amount  being  distributed  among  those  sending 
correct  solutions.  This  is  but  a  single  instance  of  the  liberality  that 
has  characterized  Merryman,  no  expense  being  spared  when  it  can 
increase  the  attractions  of  our  Monthly.  A  Prize  Puzzle  is  given 
every  month,  and  solving  it  will  furnish  a  most  agreeable  and  enter- 
taining occupation  for  an  idle  hour.  A  budget  of  Conundrums, 
Enigmas,  Riddles,  Charades,  etc.,  is  given  each  month.  Under  the 
title  of 

II1ISIM  AMUSUUHTS, 

we  give  an  entertaining  off-hand  article,  showing  how  a  great  deal  ot 
amusement  may  be  had,  with  very  little  trouble  or  expense. 

BURLESQUE  UVES  OF  POPULAR  PEOPLE 

are  given  in  a  most  laughter-provoking  form,  with  comic  illustrations. 
In  a  department  appropriately  entitled 

"OTJB  SAFGTUM," 

Merryman  each  month  enjoys  a  social  chat  with  his  readers  and 
correspondents,  and  in  a  gossipy,  free-and-easy  manner  serves  up 
whatever  comes  in  his  way  in  the  shape  of  humorous  items,  personal 
matters,  and  spicy  and  entertaining  correspondence.  In  addition  to 
these,  will  be  found  almost  everything  that  can  add  to  the  attractive- 
ness or  popularity  of  our  magazine. 

[See  third  Cover  page.] 


JAY  IRVING  COLLECTION 


THE 


KOGUES 

AND 

ROGUEKIES 


OF  NEW- YORK. 


A  FULL  AND  COMPLETE  EXPOSTJEE  OF  ALL  THE 
SWINDLES  AND  KASCALITEES  CARRIED 
ON  OR  ORIGINATED  IN  THE 
METROPOLIS. 


J.  C.  HANEY  &  CO.,  PUBLISHERS, 

109  NASSAU  STREET 
1865 


JAY  IRVING  COLLECTION 


2 


ciation  A  Boston  Swindle ;  The  "  Certificate"  dodge ;  An 
Agent's  Letter ;  An  Experimental  Investment  5  $2,153  for  S458 ; 
Another  8100  worth  of  Experience  ;  A  Good  (?)  Investment  and 
it3  Nett  Result  ;  Gold  Pens  ;  Gold  vs.  Copper. 

CHAPTER  VH.— Gamblers  and  their  Victims.— -Some  Startling 
Information  ;  Faro  ;  "  Fighting  the  Tiger  ;"  An  Ex-Pugilist  in  a 
new  Trade  ;  Spotters  and  Spies  ;  Stool-pigeons  ;  Government 
Money  in  a  Gambler's  Hell ;  The  Tragic  End ;  Drudging  and 
Robbery  ;  The  Alluring  Snare. 

CHAPTER  VHL— Garroting  and  Highway  Robbery.— Knock 
down  Arguments  #;  A  Drover  "  Brought  to  ;"  The  Usual  Result ; 
The  North  and  East  Rivers  ;  Story  of  a  Retired  Burglar. 

CHAPTER  IX— Pickpockets  and  Pocketpicking. — The  "Art;" 
Professionals  and  Amateurs ;  A.  Sweet  Creature  ;  Polite  Atten- 
tions j  Watch  Gone  ;  Purse  ditto  ;  A  Flying  Leap  ;  Fair  Game ; 
Epidemic  Crime  ;  Samples ;  Zeke  Meets  an  Acquaintance ;  Not 
George  ;  She'd  Been  an'  Gone  an'  Done  it ;  Kids ;  Rogues  in 
Pairs  ;  Regular  Beats ;  A  Lost  Purse  ;  A  new  Tourist ;  Civilities 
Declined ;  Hands  all  Around  ;  A  Warm  Clasp  5  Denoument ;  Re- 
markable Escape  of  a  Noted  Female  Convict  ;  A  Cute  Trick ;  An 
Officer  Out-generaled. 

CHAPTER  X.— The  Patent  Safe,  and  What  it  is.— Soldiers 
Fleeced;  Cultivating  Acquaintance;  Accommodation  Wanted: 
Another  Game  ;  The  Bet  and  the  Confederation  ;  A  Rascal 
Spotted ;  Zeke  and  the  Sharper. 

CHAPTER  XI.— Pocket-book  Dropping. — A  Story  of  a  Real 
Occurrence,  that  shows  in  an  amusing  manner  all  about  this 
dodge,  that  didn't  prove  at  all  amusing  to  the  hero  of  the  story. 

CHAPTER  XII.  —  Thimble-Rigging.  —  The  Thimble-Rigger's 
Haunts  ;  The  Little  John  ;  Not  There  ;  Sold ;  How  Jedediah 
Donart  was  done  for. 

CHAPTER  XHL— Concert  Saloons— Their  Inmates.— Sinks  of 
Iniquity  ;  The  Original  Concert  Saloon  ;  The  Melodeon  ;  The 
Gaieties  at  Midnight ;  Courtesans  and  Cavaliers ;  Rough  Capers  ; 
Brutal  Treatment  ol  the  Girls  ;  Next  door  Neighbors  ;  How  the 
Girls  Live ;  Thirty  on  One  Floor ;  The  Revolting  Side  of  the 
Picture ;  Pimps  ;  The  Husband  Game  :  Running  Verdants  in  ; 
More  Floats  ;  Rooms  and  Rent ;  Biographies  of  Some  of  the  Pretty 
Waiter  Girls  ;  A  Pemberton  Mill  Girl :  A"  Cruiser"  by  Night ; 
Decoyed  from  home  ;  Fanny  and  her  Irish  Girl ;  Frank  Warren  ; 
A  Visit  to  the  Dens  ;  The  Arcade  ;  Tune  out  of  Tune ;  The  last 
Resort;  A  Greeny  in  the  Net;  The  Veiled  Female:  The  Fast 
Youth  ;  The  Returned  Soldier  j  The  Human  Brute  ;  The  Key  and 
Door ;  "  Disappearance  ;"  Music  Hells  and  their  Runners ;  Moral 
Pestilence  ;  Proof  that  the  Author  has  not  Exaggerated. 

CHAPTER  XIV.- Social  Evil— Procuresses,  &c— Lost  Women 
of  New  York  ;  the  Sisterhood  of  Shame  ;  How  Recruits  are  Ob- 
tained ;  Starvation  and  Duplicity  ;  A  Thrilling  Story  of  a  Fallen 
One  ;  Annie's  Saloon  ;  In  the  Den  of  the  Procuress  ;  A  Virago 


3 


on  the  Rampage.  Panel  Gamf. — The  Robbery;  the  Victim 
Overwhelmed  ;  Embarrassing  Circumstances. 

CHAPTER  XV.—  Hackmen  and  their  Impositions.— Modern 
Jehu's;  Extortion  ;  Jonathan  and  his  Check  ;  An  Experience  at 
a  "  Hotel ;"  A  Steep  Bill ;  Young  Girls  Entrapped  ;  The  Brother's 
Search  ;  The  Girls  Story  ;  Some  Information  of  use  to  all  who 
have  occasion  to  hire  coaches,  especially  if  strangers  in  the  city. 

CHAPTER  XVI. -Quacks  and  Medical  Humbugs*— A  Wonderful 
Pill  ;  Modern  Quacks  ;  How  to  Distinguish  a  Quack  ;  How  to  Ap- 
ply the  Test  ;  Full  Exposure  of  "  Howard  Association,"  u  Benevo- 
lent Association,"  "  Confessions  of  an  Invalid,"  "Marriage  Guide," 
11  Manhood  Restored,"  "  Essence  of  Life,"  &c.  ;  the  Plan  of  Oper- 
ation ;  Falling  in  the  Trap  ;  Vtronica  Quinqut  folia  ;  An  Extortion- 
ate Speculation  ;  The  Retired  Physician  ;  A  Cruel  Dyspepsia,  a 
Wonderful  Cure,  and  a  Smart  Child  ;  A  Philanthropic  Old  Girl  ; 
Real  and  Fictitious  Names  of  some  Prominent  Quack  Doctors  ; 
Extract  of  Buchu,  Elixir  of  Life,  &c.  ;  Bitters,  and  what  they  are 
composed  of;  "  S.T.-1860  -  X. :"  "Sambuci  Wine,"  how  it  is 
made  ;  the  Jersey  Vineyards  ;  Oculists  and  Aurists ;  Old  Eyes 
Made  New  ;"  a  Bit  of  Advice. 

CHAPTER  XVIL  - Moustache  Forcers,  and  other  Swindles.  - 
The  old  original  "  Onguent"  Pioneer;  A  Bit  of  Imagination  ; 
What  Onguents  are  made  of  ;  A  Little  Experience  in  the  Forcing 
Line  ;  A  Free  Offer,  with  a  Hidden  Trap  ;  "  Secret  of  Perpetual 
Beauty  ;"  Dr.  Chapman's  Recipe,  and  how  it  pays  him  to  spend 
money ;  Advertising  to  Send  it  B'rce  ;  Something  about  Cosmetics  ; 
A  Dangerous  Prepara  tion  and  a  Heavy  Penalty ;  How  to  make 
Pimple  Banishers,  Beautifiers,  <fcc. ;  An  Inhuman  Scene ;  A  Warn- 
ing in  Time  if  needed. 

CHAPTER  XVHL— Petroleum  Swindles-Bubble  Companies.— 
How  the  Stockholders  are  Victimized.- Some  account  of  Oil, 
and  how  it  was  Struck  ;  A  bit  of  Oil  History  ;  Interesting  and  not 
too  long  ;  Oil  Up  and  Down ;  The  Noble  Well  ;  Explosion  of  a 
Bubble  Company ;  Speculators  in  the  Clutches  of  the  Police ; 
Rich  Developments  j  Exposure  of  the  United  Service  Company  ; 
Gen.  Hancock  figuring  as  an  Oil  President ;  Roping  in  Army 
Officers  ;  Full  and  Complete  Exposure,  showing  how  Bogus  Com- 
panies are  formed,  how  the  stock  is  sold,  profits  and  expenses, 
now  the  public  is  gulled,  &c.  ;  A  Model  Account  Current  ;  A 
Confidential  Letter,  not  intended  to  appear  in  print ;  Alluring 
Prospectuses  ;  Some  Statistics  and  Facts  about  Oil,  embraoing 
considerable  information  in  little  space. 

CHAPTER  XIX- Gold  Mines  and  Mining  Companies.- Full 
Warning  of  the  Future  ;  The  Chances  of  a  Good  Investment  very 
Small  ^Dividends  Out  of  Pocket ;  An  Editor  Not  Convinced  ; 
Sure  Proof  of  Want  of  Faith ;  Fortunes  at  Half  Price  ;  How 
Names  of  Prominent  Men  are  obtained  as  Directors ;  A  Nice 
Trick  of  the  Bogus  Companies  Spoiled  by  the  Assessors  ;  Fic- 
titious Sales,  and  the  Scoundrels  in  a  Tight  Place  ;  A  Disagreeable 
Predicament ;  Obliged  to  Own  Up  ;  Presidents  in  Demand  ; 
Market  Value  of  a  Responsible  Name. 


4 


JHAPTER  XX.— Lotc  Powders.— How  to  gain  the  Love  of  the 

Opposite  Sex:  Prof.  Rondout's  " Simple"  Method  ;  A  Charming 
Profession ;  What  "  Love  Powders"  are  Composed  of ;  The  Ney 
York  Journal :  The  "  Matrimonial  and  Sympathetic  Card  ;"  The 
Sensations  Produced ;  The  Doctor's  Love  Powder  Recipe  ;  A 
Wonderful  Drop  ;  Dr.  Andrews  and  his  "  Vibratory  Preventive ;" 
How  a  P.  M.  was  Gulled  ;  Amusing  experience ;  Catch-pennies  ; 
Secret  Charms ;  Human  Telegraphic  Batteries ;  "  Photographic 
Union." 

CHAPTER  XXI.— Swindling  Impossibilities— How  to  Become 
Invisible — Agricultural  Prophets — Transmutation* — Extent  of 
Credulity ;  Absurd  but  Successful  Humbugs  ;  How  to  Become 
Invisible  ;  How  a  "  Doctor"  became  Invisible  ;  A  Modern  Pro- 
phet ;  Changing  Base  Metals  into  Precious  ones  ;  How  "  Trans- 
mutation" is  really  done. 

CHAPTER  XXH.— Situation  Agencies,  etc.— Every-day  Vilainies; 
Savannah  Dodge  ;  A  Rogue  Caught  Through  his  own  "  Cheeki* 
ness ;"  A  Man  of  Experience  ;  An  Easy  Business  (very !) ;  An  Oil 
Clerk  ;  Persons  Wanted  for  the  Show  Business  ;  A  Good  Open- 
ing, but  not  so  easy  to  get  out  j  Change  of  Pants,  and  a  Rat  Smelt ; 
A  Show  closed  up  ;  Dr.  Hawkinson  s  Plan  for  Making  Everybody 
Wealthy :  Agents  Wanted,  and  what  for ;  Samples  for  25  cents  ; 
$2,000  a  Year  ;  Bootless  Journeys. 

CHAPTER  XXHL— Sewing  machine  Swindles.— How  the  Swin- 
dle is  Carried  on  j  A  Regular  Salary  and  Expenses  Paid  :  Private 
to  Everybody ;  Low  Priced  Machines  ;  Running  into  Danger ; 
How  a  Lady  was  Taken  in. 

CHAPTER  XXIV. — Perambulating  Swindlers,  etc. — Rolling 
Stones :  Wine  Plants  ;  Tree  and  Plant  Peddlers  ;  A  Clean  Sweep  : 
Patent  Rights  ;  Lightning  Rod  Swindle  ;  A  New  Kind  of  "  Order ;" 
A  Gas  Humbug  ;  "  Cucuma ;"  A  Dangerous  Fluid ;  Subscription 
Agents,  and  Bogus  Publication ;  Pleasant  Little  Plays ;  Some 
more  Benevolence,  with  Premiums  added ;  A  Grand  Scheme ; 
Balsam  and  Blankets  ;  Watches  and  Pianos  ;  Ten  Cents  Freight  j 
The  "  Reliable  Contraband"  Surpassed. 

CHAPTER  XXV. — Confidence  Games,  and  Confidence  Opera- 
tors.— The  Beautiful  Lady  who  i:  might  have  been  seen ;  '  A 
Clerk  Bamboozled ;  Spanish  Consul  in  Want  of  Pants ;  Hard  up  ; 
A  Countryman  of  the  Confiding  Kind ;  Remarkable  Change  or 
Color  ;  A  Sharp  Down-Easter  ;  An  Embryo  Supercargo  ;  A  New 
Dodge  ;  A  "  Light"  Swindle  ;  Physician  Victimized  ;  A  sick  Man 
on  his  Muscle  ;  An  Impudent  Imposture ;  Mock  Auctions  ;  Yan- 
kee Editor  taken  in  j  Seeing  the  Fun  ;  Union  Relief  Association ; 
A  mean  Swindle. 

CHAPTER  XXVI.— Professional  Beggars.— A  Young  Rogue; 
Juvenile  Beggars  ;  Housebreakers'  Spies  ;  Stationery  Packets  : 
Dishonest  Lawyer  ;  Juvenile  Depravity ;  The  Woman  with  small 
Families ;  Profitable  Blindness ;  Affecting  Narratives ;  A  Queei 
Unfortunate  China-ware. 

CHAPTER  XXVH.— All  About  Counterfeiters  «n£  Counterfeiting 


PREFACE. 


The  object  of  this  work  is  to  point  out  the  traps  and  pitfalls  of 
the  great  metropolis,  especially  to  those,  who,  coming  upon  tbe 
eights  and  sounds  of  the  huge  city  for  the  first  time,  are  confused 
by  them,  ffid  forget  for  the  moment  those  maxims  of  prudence  by 
which  they  have  previously  regulated  their  conduct.    There  are 
two  classes  of  individuals  apt  to  be  imposed  upon  in  the  city :  First, 
those  who  are  caught  only  through  ignorance  or  innocence  ;  and, 
second,  those  who  are  snared  with  the  help  of  their  own  greed  for 
unearned  gain  or  unlawful  pleasure.   As  in  the  rest  of  the  world, 
the  latter  are  the  more  numerous  by  far.    To  avoid  being  swindled, 
then,  the  first  rule  is  never  to  try  to  obtain  that  for  a  dollar  which 
is  rated  by  the  common  consent  of  the  world  at  four  or  five  times 
that  value,  nor  to  seek  in  the  crowded  city  for  indulgences  which  you 
avoid  in  your  own  circle.   When  a  man  by  direct  address,  or  by 
skillfully-worded  advertisement,  offers  a  large  return  for  a  trifliug 
outlay— an  article  much  under  its  value,  or  a  certain  means  of  making 
a  large  income  for  a  small  investment— you  may  be  sure  of  one  of 
two  things  :  either  that  he  has  come  by  what  he  has  to  dispose  of, 
dishonestly,  or  that  he  means  to  cheat  you.   No  matter  in  what 
shape  the  proposition  comes,  the  rule  holds  good.   And  if  you 
abandon  the  beaten  path  of  virtue,  you  always  throw  youself  open 
to  the  operations  of  swindlers  of  every  degree  of  skill,  waiting  at 
every  corner  for  a  hint  as  to  the  proclivities  of  the  viciim,  which, 
once  obtained,  they  seldom  fail  to  improve  to  the  utmost.  Never- 
theless, entirely  innocent  sufferers  are  also  plentiful.   These  will 


viii 


PREFACE. 


always  find  friends  and  protectors  in  the  Metropolitan  Police.  If 
you  are  entirely  ignorant  of  the  city  and  want  to  reach  a  hotel  -  to 
take  a  hack,  or  to  do  anything  else  in  which  your  want  of  knowledge 
would  expose  you  to  dangers  to  the  pocket,  morals  or  person,  ap- 
ply to  the  Metropolitan  policeman.  He  is  the  universal  friend  ;  and 
although  subject  to  the  frailties  of  human  nature,  he  is,  by  virtue  of 
his  office  and  the  system  of  which  he  is  a  part,  a  safe  guide. 

In  the  task  of  exposing -as  we  are  about  to  do— the  Rogueries 
of  the  City,  we  are  obliged  to  speak  of  certain  things  and  in  a 
manner  that  may  seem  unnecessarily  plain.  But  we  are  left  no  al- 
ternative. To  put  the  stranger  on  his  guard,  we  must  speak  out  de- 
cidedly, and  there  is  nothing  in  these  pages  for  which  we  have  not 
ample  official  authority. 


ROGUERIES  OF  JfEW  YORK. 


CHAPTER  L 


LOTTERIES. 


"  Who  says  Lotteries  are  a  humbug  ?"  exclaimed  an  individual 

standing  upon  the  piazza  of  the   House,  Louisville,  Ky  ,— to 

a  number  of  guests  there  assembled ;  "  here  I  have  just  draAvn  a 
$10,000  prize  in  the  Covington  scheme,  and  all  it  cost  me  was  $10. 
Come  and  take  a  drink."  The  invitation  would  no  doubt  have  ef- 
fectually prevented  an  answer  to  the  interrogation,  had  not  an  el- 
derly gentleman,  leaning  against  a  pillar  supporting  the  balcony, 
unobserved  by  most  of  those  present,  quietly  stepped  up,  and  look- 
ing the  "  fortunate"  winner  of  *  10,000  in  the  face,  coolly  remarked  : 
"  Young  man,  you  lie !"  This  exclamation,  as  might  naturally  be 
expected,  somewhat  astonished  those  who  heard  it,  and  all  eyes 
were  turned  towards  the  "  young  man"  to  note  the  effect  of  the  de- 
liberate insult  that  had  been  levelled  at  him.  To  the  surprise  aud 
contempt  of  the  witnesses  of  this  little  scene,  the  boaster  of  a 
few  moments  before  appeared  cowed,  and  utterly  unable  to  articulate 
a  word.  ■  Leave  this  place  immediately,"  resumed  the  gentleman, 
"  and  don't  let  me  see  you  here  again."  Without  waiting  to  hear 
the  end  of  the  sentence,  the  crest-fallen  rascal  (for  so  h<?  was)  skulk- 
ed away,  and  the  guests  saw  him  again  no  more. 

M  Gentlemen,  I  see  an  explanation  is  due  you.   Know  then  that  I 

am  detective   ,"  (mentioning  a  well-known  name);  "that 

fellow  is  one  of  the  most  unprincipled  and  cowardly  scoundrels 
that  ever  lived  ;  lie  has  been  pickpocket,  burglar,  and  gambler  by 
turns,  and  is  now  the  chief  "  runner"  of  a  lottery  in  this  State,  by 
means  of  which  he  has  victimized  thousand?.  His  story  that  he 
had  drawn  a  #10,000  prize  is  a  trap  to  catch  greenhorns.  I  advise 
you  to  look  out  for  him,  now  you  know  him,"  and  so  saying  the 
detective  quietly  withdrew  and  re-entered  the  hotel. 

From  this  actual  fact  may  be  learned  the  social  %/ntw  of  a  major- 
ity of  those  engaged  in  the  lottery  business— unprincipled  rascals 


u  But,"  interrupts  the  reader,  "  surely  all  lotteries  are  not  swindles, 
I  have  frequently  heard  of  persons  drawing  prizes,  and  large  ones 
at  that."  Very  true,  but  did  you  ever  hear  of  the  hundreds— aye, 
tens  of  hundreds— who  didn't  draw  prizes  ?   Can  you  imagine  the 


whose  only  endeavor  is  to  fleece 


10 


ROGUERIES  OF  NEW  YORK. 


anxieties,  heart-burnings,  disappointments,  of  the  latter  ?  Do  you 
think  the  self-gratulation  and  success  of  the  one  a  fit  recompense  for 
the  misfortunes  and  losses  of  the  others  ? 

People  residing  in  the  country,  with  but  few  acquaintances,  out- 
side of  their  own  village  or  county  limits,  are  often  surprised  at 
receiving  through  the  Post-office  certain  (ostensibly)  literary  journals, 
containing  among  other  things,  full  descriptions  of  the  grand  drawing 
of  a  certain  lottery  to  come  off— say,  for  example,  at  Wilmington, 
Delaware  on  "  the  25th  of  next  month,"  together  with  the  price  of 
whole,  half,  quarter  and  one-eighth  tickets  ;  also  li  directions  how 
to  remit  money."  But  how  are  the  names  and  addresses  of  parties, 
to  whom  these  papers  are  directed,  ascertained?  In  the  most  simple 
way  imaginable— by  means  of  the  advertising  columns  of  the  vil- 
lage newspaper,  and  published  Post-office  lists  of  advertised  letters, 
hotel  registers,  etc. 

The  writer  has  now  before  him  no  less  than  ten  copies  of  as  many 
different  "  lottery  papers."  One  will  do  for  a  u  sample."  It  pur- 
ports to  be  published  at  Covington,  Kentucky  (although  it  is  well- 
known  that  it  is  printed  in  Jersey  City),  and  is  designated  as  the 
"  New  Era."  The  first  page  contains  an  uncompleted  story  of  the 
blood-and-thunder  style,  with  the  line  "  to  be  concluded  in  our 
next,"  at  the  end  of  the  fourth  chapter.  The  remaining  columns 
are  filled  with  an  explanation  of  the  scheme  of  the  "  Kentucky  Grand 
Lottery,  to  be  drawn  on  the  18th  of  October,  1864,  at  Covington," 
giving  the  prices  of  tickets,  method  of  drawing,  Sec.  There  are,  it 
seems,  some  five  thousand  numbers,  so  that  every  holder  of  a  ticket 
has  just  four  thousand  nine  hundred  and  ninety-nine  chances  to  one 
of  obtaining  the  grand  prize,  though  of  course*  he  may  come  in  for 
a  second,  tenth  orx  twentieth  "  hit."  But  even  then  he  has  but 
twenty  chances  out  of  five  thousand  at  the  best ;  he  may  get  a  prize 
but  the  probability  is  that  he  will  not. 

Herbert  Laurence,  a  young  clerk  in  a  broker's  office  in  New  York 
—  the  support  of  a  mother  and  sister — had  won,  by  many  years' 
faithful  service,  the  approbation  of  his  employers,  and  the  love  and 
esteem  of  all  that  knew  him.  With  quite  a  large  salary  and  excel- 
lent prospects,  it  would  seem  as  if  his  path  through  life  was  to  be 
smooth,  and  unattended  by  the  many  dangers  and  temptations  that 
surround  the  youth  of  the  city.  In  an  evil  hour  he  was  induced  by 
the  persuasions  of  a  "friend"  to  purchase  a  ticket  in  a  Delaware 
lottery  scheme.  Five  dollars  was  the  sum  paid  for  it.  Once  in 
possession  of  the  ticket,  he  gave  it  no  more  thought  until,  one 
afternoon,  he  was  accosted  by  his  "  friend,"  who  wished  him  much 
joy  of  his  "  good  luck." 

«  What  luck  ?» 

u  Why,  haven't  you  seen  the  lotterv  numbers  ?  You  have  drawn 
the  $1,000  prize." 

This  unAxpected  news  was  no  less  astonishing  than  gratifying. 
After  some  delay  he  received  two  third*  of  the  cash,  the  other  third 
being  eat  up  in  commissions,  etc.  How  he  spent  it,  or  what  he 
did  with  it,  is  nothing  to  us.  But  from  this  time  Herbert  was 
doomed.   The  passion  for  lottery-playing  took  possession  of  him, 


LOTTERIES. 


11 


body  and  sonl ;  all  the  money  he  could  rake  and  scrape  was  laid 

out  in  the  purchase  of  ticket?.  His  luck  was  varying.  Occasionally 
b.3  would  make  a  "  hit f*  but  steadily  and  surely  his  ca-h  melted 
away.  HLs  saving*  for  years  were  withdrawn  from  the*bank,  and 
squandered  in  the  same  way  ;  his  dress  became  shabby  and  thread- 
bare. Soon  his  widowed  mother  and  uncomplaining  sister  began 
to  want  the  very  necessaries  of  life ;  still  in  spite  of  his  downward 
career,  ever  and  anon  he  would  resolve  to  give  up  the  all-absorb- 
ing desire,  threatening  to  beggar  and  ruin  him  forever.  ""One more 
venture  only  to  make  up  my  losses"— failure  again !  But  wi  y  fur- 
ther trace  his  sad  career.  Desperate,  he  embezzled  from  his  trust- 
ing employers  the  wherewithal  to  purchase  tickets,  and  was  detect- 
ed. Arrest  was  followed  by  examination,  conviction,  and  sentence, 
and  Herbert  is  now  an  inmate  of  the  State  Prison.  His  broken- 
hearted mother  is  at  rest  in  the  grave — and  his  sister,  God  alone 
knows  her  fate !  This  is  a  true  unvarnished  narrative,  the  name  alone 
being  fictitious. 

Confidential  letters  are  sent  to  individuals,  generally  enclosing 
packages  of  tickets,  with  the  idea  that  the  fact  will  be  published 
abroad,  and  thus  secure  investments. 

As  a  specimen,  we  give  the  following  circular  from  a  Lottery  Agen- 
cy in  New  York  city  : 

"  New  York,  March  22,  1865. 

"  Dear  Sir  : — As  we  write  to  you  on  a  subject  that  concerns  your 
pecuniary  interest,  we  trust  that  our  letter  will  require  no  apology. 
Knowing"  full  well  that  if  a  good  Prize  were  sent  to  some  person  in 
your  section  of  the  State,  who  would  show  the  money,  and  make  it 
generally  known,  our  business  and  reputation  as  pnze-sellers  would 
be  greatly  benefitted,  we  have  taken  the  liberty  of  addressing  you 
to  tender  to  you  a  beautifully  arranged  package  of  tickets,  which 
we  have  carefully  selected  and  labelled  for  you  in  the  enclosed 
magnificent  scheme.  We  do  this,  however,  only  upon  condition 
that,  if  successful,  you  use  your  tnjkunrt  among  your  acquaintances  m  our 
favor.  You  will  please  understand  that  we  design  this  arrangement 
to  act  as  an  advertisement  of  our  firm,  and  you  will  therefore  U  ejpe<-ud 
t->  exhibit  the  money,  and  circulate  the  report  that  you  drew  it  at 
H   &  Co.'s  Lucky  Office.  « 

"  Should  you  be  prejudiced  against  Lotteries  and  have  any  objec- 
tion to  receive  money  in  this  way,  you,  of  course,  will  not  answer  our 
purpose.  Here  is  our  otfer,  and  we  are  so  certain  that  we  know  how 
to  select  a  lucky  certificate,  that  if  the  one  we  select  for  you,  does 
not.  at  the  very  "last,  draw  a  #5000  prize,  we  will  send  you  another 
package  in  one  of  our  extra  Lotteries  for  nothing." 

The  above  is  marked  confidential,  and  needs  no  comment.  TVe 
have  the  original  document.  Need  any  other  proof  be  given  of  the 
assertion  that  a  lottery  is  but  another  name  for  a  large  swindle 
and  that  the  u  managers"  are  but  a  set  of  unprincipled  rascals  ?  As 
a  fitting  appendix  to  the  foregoing,  we  give  the  following  letter  with 
the  real  name  of  the  writer : 


v 


12 


ROGUERIES  OF  NEW  YORK. 


No.  19  Merchants*  Exohanot?, 
Newport,  Ky.,  March  8,  1865. 


"Mr.  G 


:— Dear  Sir : 


Your  ticket  has  drawn  a  $250  prize.  But  as  you  have  not  paid 
for  it,  you  can  obtain  the  prize  only  in  this  way  :  write  me  a  letter 
dated  on  the  day  of  drawing  and  enclose  price  of  ticket.  As  soon 
as  received  I  shall  send  the  letter  unopened  to  the  managers,  with 
a  note  stating  that  the  letter  was  mislaid  in  the  P.  0. ;  but  presnme 
they  will  find  the  money  and  date  of  order  correct.  They  do  not 
know  your  ticket  drew  a  prize,  and  will  take  the  money  and  send 
you  a  certificate.  Write  nothing  about  this  letter,  but  enclose  the 
money  and  mail  the  letter  from  your  P.  O.  1  can  alter  the  date  of  jwt- 
mari.  On  receipt  of  the  prize  money,  show  it  to  your  friends  and 
advise  them  to  purchase  tickets  from  my  office. 

(Signed,)  J.  M.  Percival, 

"  Private  and  confidential !" 

Isn't  that  a,  refreshing  document? 

Can  such  unblushing  scoundrels  as  the  above,  deal  honestly  with 
those  foolish  enough  to  trust  them  ? 

We  might  give  hundreds  of  letters  and  relate  scores  of  instances, 
affording  indisputable  evidence  of  the  fact  that  the  whole  Lot- 
tery business  is  downright  fraud  and  swindling.  But  we  have  said 
enough  to  open  the  eyes  of  our  readers  to  the  prevalence  of  the 
evil,  and  the  dangers  resulting  therefrom. 

Lottery-playing,  in  plain  English,  is  Gambling — and  gambling  in 
its  worst  form. 

These  pages  are  not  written  for  those  who  are  paying  a  premium 
for  the  privilege  of  being  swindled.  They  will  give  but  little  re- 
gard to  what  we  say  ;  but  to  those  who  are  tempted  or  in  danger  of 
being  tempted,  we  sound  the  note  of  warning.  Under  no  circum- 
stance— under  no  inducement — give  one  cent  for  a  lottery  ticket. 
Resist  the  tempter  in  whatever  form  he  may  appear,  if  you  value 
your  peace  of  mind  or  the  welfare  of  yourself  and  those  dependent 
upon  youl 


TffTs  game  of  chance,  which  has  grown  out  of  the  Lottery  traffic, 
is  indulged  in  to  an  immense  extent  in  this  city.  The  trade  con- 
sists in  a  sub-division  of  the  original  numbers,  with  variations  in 
the  forms,  selling  the  tickets  by  arranging  the  position  of  the  fig- 
ures, &c. 

Policy  is  a  passion — a  mania,  even — with  a  multitude — especially 
among  the  colored  community.  The  infatuation  that  seizes  a  regu- 
lar buyer  is  unaccountable  ;  the  deluded  victims  never  grow  wiser 
by  disappointment,  which,  in  ninety-nine  cases  out  of  a  hundred,  is 
the  inevitable  result  of  their  venture. 


CHAPTER  LL 


POLICY  PEALING. 


POLICY  DEALING. 


18 


It  is  a  curious  fact  that  the  chief  method  of  bolstering  up  the 
traffic  is  by  dream*.  The  sa<je  01  Aragos  was  considered  a  wise  man 
in  his  day ;  but  your  dreamer  in  fortunate  chances  is  an  oracle  of 
surpassing  sagacity.  He  is  consulted  with  as  much  gravity  as  was 
the  Delphic  oracle.  Dreams  are  sold  even  as  an  article  of  merchan- 
dize ;  books  suggesting  the  key  to  visions,  and  revealing  the  signifi- 
cance of  lucky  themes,  are  subjects  of  constant  reference.  It  is 
amuung  to  see  the  intense  emotion  pervading  a  crowd  of  colloquial 
expectants,  when  a  slip  of  the#ir.iwn  numbers  is  secured.  It  is 
hardly  creditable  that  the  expenditure  of  a  cent  or  two  could  cause 
such  a  concentration  of  anxiety  as  may  be  witnessed,  almost  any 
day,  among  the  workmen  in  many  of  the  large  establishments  iQ 
the  city.  Some  places,  such  as  large  printing  offices,  keep  a  mes- 
senger continually  traversing  the  space  between  the  depot  of  for- 
tune and  that  of  delusion. 

In  some  of  tho  lower  classes  of  policy  shops  it  is  said  that  rear 
rooms  are  fitted  up,  where,  amid  the  fumes  of  bad  liquor  and  tobacco 
smoke,  dreanvrs  are  wooed  into  the  realms  of  Morpheus,  and  here, 
with  minds  deadened  to  all  beside,  they  revel  -amid  such  grand 
and  elevating  visions  as  "  cows  mounting  ladders,"  "  eating  onions." 
"  a  white  goat,"  (good  sign),  "  a  black  goat,"  (evil  omen),  and 
other  animals  supposed  to  illustrate  the  pecuniary  premonitions  of 
the  fate  of  the  ticket.  Dreaming  of  being  hanged,  naturally  indi- 
cates an  elevation  in  life,  which  is  nearer  the  mark  than  most  peo- 
ple suppose,  though  the  rising  torce  may  be  hemp  and  not  "  lucky 
gigs."  It  will  not  appear  strange  that  among  these  devotees  all 
"  manners  of  visions"  are  experienced,  but  in  their  waking  hours 
they  absorb  exclusively  their  attention.  The  principles  of  their  in- 
terpretations are  arbitrary  and  unalterable.  For  instance,  to  dniam 
of  gold  signiGes  that  the  lucky  number  will  be  <;  7,"  and  of  paper 
money  "  4L"  Shinplasters  would  seem  to  abound  in  the  sleeper's 
Elysium,  and  it  seems  a  pity  that  he  should  awake  to  the  provoking 
realization  of  empty  pockets.  Almost  every  conceivable  thing  or 
condition  is  represented  by  numbers,  which  in  combination,  as 
elaborately  set  forth  in  the  "  Book  of  Oracles,"  would  lead  the 
verdant  worshipper  at  the  "  Wheel  of  Fortune"  to  believe  that  if 
he  perchance  do  dream  he  can  put  money  in  his  purse. 

To  dream  of  a  dead  horse  is  an  infallible  indication  ol  luck. 
Associated,  as  defunct  nags  are,  with  everything  to  the  contrary,  it 
may  be  comforting  to  some  minds  that,  having  one  in  beatified 
vision,  is  better  than  one  in  reality.  Shade  of  Rosinante,  where  art 
thou ! 

Policy  dealers  have  a  literature  of  their  own.  Their  Book  of 
Dreams  is  a?  Gospel.  Faith  is  not  only  pinned  to  its  ipse  dixit,  but 
its  predictions  are  made  the  base  of  operations  for  all  time.  The 
"  Oraculum"  quotes  a  full-bloodsd  or  pure  African  higher  than  a 
mulatto.  The  nearer  the  sable-hue  1  human  approaches  the  Caucas- 
sian  the  lower  he  ranks  in  the  scale.  Exoert?  aver  that  mixed 
blood  is  unfavorable  to  success ;  the  presiding  genius  of  the  "  ro- 
tary movement"  is  always  a  lineal  descendant  of  Ham 


14 


ROGUERIES  IN  NEW  YORK. 


A  colored  dreamer  beholding  the  list  of  drawn  numbers  solilo- 
quizes in  this  mauner  : 

"  Dat's  44  last — ded  sure  f  " 11  in  third  station  sure  "  4  fust 
can't  be  nuffin  else."  "Play  7-33  in  a  capital  saddle,  and  jes'  hit 
it ;"  "Nos.  23,  37,  56,  is  de  gig."  "  One  up  for  a  moke."  «  Jes' 
my  luck ;  played  9  fast  in  de  Delaware,  and  it's  come  in  de  Ken- 
tucky." "  Played  a  horse  last  night  (that  is,  foar  numbers),  and  its 
cum  dis  mornin'.    Hard,  very  hard,"  &c. 

"To  dream  of  a  dead  negro  ind%ates  that  14  is  the  number  to  be 
purchased  :  of  a  defunct  wench.  5." 

So  it  appears  that  Dinah  is  considerably  below  par  when  compar- 
ed with  Pompey. 

"  To  dream  of  a  man  is  1 ;  of  a  woman,  5  ;  of  both,  15  ;  of  two 
men,  11 ;  two  women,  55  ;  colored  man,  14 ;  genteel  colored  man, 

Gentility  does  not  appear  a  necessary  qualification  in  the  "  land 
of  Nod." 
<;  To  dream  of  a  Dutchman,  14." 

Sambo's  and  Hans'  stock  are  quoted  of  like  value  on  the  Dream- 
er's Exchange. 

Many  instances  might  be  cited  illustrative  of  the  ruinous  results 
of  this  pernicious  vice.  We  give  one  which  will  serve  as  an  exam- 
ple of  the  many,  and  may  be  the  means  of  deterring  others,  similar- 
ly situated,  from  entering  upon  this  dangerouc;%road  : 

The  victim  was  the  son  of  a  country  clergyman.  This  youth,  the 
hope  of  an  estimable  parent,  was  a  journeyman  at  some  branch  of 
carriage-making.  He  went  to  Philadelphia  with  a  few  hundred 
dollars  in  cash,  and  the  enticements  of  his  neighbor  over  the  way 
were  soon  made  known  to  him.  Straightway  he  became  a  patron  of 
policies.  At  the  first  venture  he  won  a  few  dollars.  These  he  dou- 
bled and  staked  again — and  lost.  Again  he  staked,  and  again  lost, 
until  more  than  half  of  his  funds  were  taken  away  from  him.  Made 
desperate  by  failure,  but  still  confident  of  success,  he  staked  all  that 
remained,  and  was  penniless.  His  destitution  made  him  insane. 
Surviving  a  long  illness,  he  resumed  his  trade,  but  had  no  mind  for 
work.  All  his  energies  were  concentrated  upon  the  policies,  and 
the  sad  scene  was  witnessed  of  the  errant  lad  sweeping  the  pave- 
ment and  doing  menial  service  for  the  man  who  had  robbed  him. 
His  recompense  for  this  debasement  was  the  privilege  of  choos  ng  three  num- 
bers gratuitously  in  V  e  policy  lift.  He  occupied  the  positiou  of  copyist 
in  that  worthy's  office,  and  his  wasted  energies  were  crazed  into  the 
single  lust  of  winning.  How  many  of  the  miserable  beings  who 
daily  tread  our  streets  could  trace  their  degradation  and  ruin  to 
the  policy-shop.  Rum  and  politics  ruin  their  hundreds,  but  the 
policy-shop  comprehends  these  evils  and  many  more.  It  at  first 
blush  appears  more  respectable,  and  its  devotees  can,  in  the  begin- 
ning, more  easily  conceal  their  shame.  But  there  follows  a  gradual 
weakening  of  ti  3  spirit  and  dullness  of  the  moral  perceptions,  until 
the  victim  begins  to  indulge  in  the  intoxicating  draught  to  drown 
his  disappointment.  He  has  lost  his  habits  of  industry  from  revel- 
ling in  dreams  of  castles  in  the  air,  and  is  now  either  destined  to 


MATRIMONIAL  ADVERTISEMENTS. 


15 


drunkenness  and  beggary,  or  to  a  gamblers  life,  with  its  acce<?soiies 
of  picking  pockets,  thieving  and  preying  upon  unsophisticated 
countrymen,  who  are  too  often  drawn  into  the  same  vicious  course  of 
life.  Something  surely  ought  to  be  done  to  eradicate  bo* fruitful  a 
source  of  sin  and  wretchedness  as  policy-dealing. 

These  policy  shops  are  backed  by  large  capital,  chiefly  in  the 
hands  of  one  or  two  men-  an  ex-M.C.  and  a  prominent  hotel-keeper 
in  Jersey  City.  Prizes  when  drawn  are  generally  paid.  The  whole 
business,  however,  is  one  of  the  most  dangerous  of  those  classed 
among  the  forbidden  ;  and  those  who  follow  it  are  inevitably  led  to 
ruiu. 


CHAPTER  UI. 

MATRIMONIAL  ADVERTISEMENTS. 

What  a  fruitful  theme  for  comment  and  curiosity  are  the  "  matri- 
monial^ advertisements  of  the  Herald  or  the  Sanity  Mercury  I  What 
queer  phases  of  life,  and  what  a  curious  condition  of  social  habits 
are  by  them 

u  Revealed  while  yet  concealed." 

The  fantastic  style  in  which  these  advertisements  are  often  written, 
is  no  less  amusing  thin  the  announcements.  A  super-abundanco 
of  adjectives,  describing  the  various  qualities  of  the  advertiser,  is 
one  of  the  first  things  that  attracts  the  eye.  Variety,  too,  also  ap- 
pears a  pre-eminent  failing  (or  is  it  often  a  virtue  ?)  to  the  critical 
taste.  But  then  these  advertisements  are  not  intended  for  criticism 
(but  like  many  a  painted  doll)  solely  for  attraction.,  Bad  grammar  is 
a  characteristic.  The  Queen's  English  is  barbarously  murdered 
within  the  space  of  a  ten-line  paragraph,  in  a  way  that  might  cause 
old  Lindley  Murray  himself  to  start  from  the  grave  in  horror.  Just 
think  of  a  "  Miss"  advertising  for  a  husband  H  that  is  good-looking 
and  don't  have  no  faults,"  or  a  yenn*  homo  that  needs  "  a  comp'anion 
through  the  valleys  of  misfortune  where  the  wicked  is  always  trou- 
bling and  the  weary  gets  no  rest.'' 

"  Broken''  French  was  at  one  time  a  fashionable  method  of  in- 
diting, as  : 

"To  ze  Belles.  You.vo  Mademoiselles.  -Vill  one  of  ze  pretty 
leetle  femmes  zat  have  no  sweetheart,  but  much  wishes  for  a  ban 
husband,  address  ze  petite  note  to  F.,  Box  No.  ,  P.  0." 

Bad  French  and  worse  English  ;  no  Frenchman  ever  wrote  that  - 
but  some  scamp  who  thought  to  play  off  the  difficulties  experienced 
by  a  Gaul  in  acquiring  a  foreign  idiom. 

"Adon's,  to  some  Lovely  Vknl's.— Don't  all  speak  at  once.  A 
young  gentleman,  faultless  in  person  and  manners,  desires  to  culti- 
vate the  acquaintance  of  an  equally  pleasing  companion  of  the  other 
sex.    Address,"  &c. 

The  assurance  of  this  fellow  is  really  charming.  He  modestly 
styles  himself  an  Adonis  and  describes  his  personal  appearance  and 


16 


ROGUERIES  OF  NEW  YORK. 


manners  as  "  faultless."'   It  is  doubtful  whether  he  found  the  "  com- 
panion of  the  other  sex"  equally  as  pleasing.    We  rather  think  not. 
The  world  could  not  hold  two  such  incomparable  mortals. 
This  is  a  little  different : 

"  Old,  Ugly,  and  Cros*.— The  advertiser  wants  a  wife  to  love  him 
when  he  is  well,  to  nurse  him  when  he  is  sick,  and  to  mix  his  toddy 
when  he  wants  it.  Sknex. — New  York." 

Candid  at  any  rate  ;  he  deserves  to  have  his  toddy  well  mixed  if 
he  **  is  old,  ugly,  and  cross." 

"A  young  man*,  aged  28,  wishes  a  situation  as  son-in-law  in  some 
respectable  family.  For  f  urther  partieulars  address  A.  F.  Symkrs. 
United  States  steamer  Shamrock,  Plymouth,  Albermarle  Sound, 
N.  C. ' 

We  trust  the  young  gentleman  will  find  a  situation  in  the  capacity 
he  desires,  and  that  he  will  give  satisfaction  therein.  He  is  candid, 
at  all  events. 

"  Mark  way  for  a  Perfect  Brtck,  who,  having  sown  his  wild  oats, 
wants  to  settle  down  in  a  cottage  with  a  virtuous  wife  to  while  and 
coo  away  the  remainder  of  his  days.    Address,"  &c. 

"  P.  B.,"  we  venture  to  suggest,  has  been  a  man  about  town— with 
plenty  of  money.  He  has  seen  a  good  deal  of  the  world — but  has 
become  disgusted  with  its  pleasures,  and  would  therefore  like 
to  retire  and  enjoy  his  "  of.  cum  d«j  "  in  peace  and  quiet.  But  to 
do  so  he  wants  a  "  virtuous  wife."  Evidently,  in  f  sowing  his  wild 
oats,''  he  has  not  learned  to  appreciate  feminine  virtue.  We  hope 
he  has  by  this  time.— A  reformed  rake  makes  a  good  husband. 

Now  let  us  hear  what  the  ladies  have  to  say  for  themselves. 

"Wanted— A  husband.— Must  be  over  20  and  under  35  ;  have 
plenty  of  money — a  handsome  moustache — with  strong  religious 
tendencies.  With  such  a  one  "  Louise,"  a  sweet  girl  of  20.  is  anxious 
to  enter  the  matrimonial  state.  Cartes  exchanged  if  desired.  Ad- 
dress," &c. 

"  Louise,"  is  very  exact  in  her  requirements.  "  A  handsome 
moustache,  with  strong  religious  tendencies,"  we  imagine  is  very 
difficult  to  find.  "  The  sweet  girl"  is  willing  to  exchange  "  cartes ;" 
truly  an  earnest  of  her  intentions. 

"  Romeo,  0  Rr  meo,  where  art  thou  ?  thy  Juliet  sighs  for  thee." 
"Come  fly  to  this  bosom  thou  love-stricken  deer."  "  Tarry  not— but 
fly  on  the  wings  of  the  morning,  and  greet  thy  bride-expectant." 
"  Want'st  thou  a  mate  for  life  ?"   Address  "  Juliet" 

We  must  take  a  breath  after  that.  "0  for  the  wings  of  the 
morning  to  fly  to  thy  bride-expectant."  If  any  sensitive  young 
man  could  resist  such  an  appeal  his  heart  must  be  stone  indeed. 

From  the  sublime  to  the  practical : 

i;  Marry  me  and  I'll  do  you  good.   Address,"  &c. 

Short,  tart,  and  to  the  point. 

"A  Widow,  fair,  fat,  and  net  forty,  desires  a  congenial  domestio 


MATRIMONIAL  ADVERTISEMENTS. 


17 


partner.  Possesses  some  furniture  and  a  little  spare  cash.  Charac- 
ter unassai'able.    Address  W." 

A  dangerous  woman.  "  Samuel,  my  son,  beware  of  the  vidders." 
A  strong  inducement  is  that i:  furniture?"7  Housekeeping  at  once. 
And  the  hint  of  an  unassailable  character  ! 

One  more  illustration. 

"  Hkartsj  are  trumps,  but  diamond?  lead  ;  in  other  words,  love  is 
much,  but  cash  is  more.  Anybody  that  can  unriddle  this  can  have 
an  opportunity  to  obtain  a  charming  wife.    Send  answers  to  

"  Riddle  me,  riddle  me  this."  The  solution  is  not  difficult.  The 
lady  wants  a  husband  with  money  ;  and  while  she  tries  to  love  him 
she  will  love  his  cash-box  more.  The  adventurer  is  a  whist  player 
evidently,  but  that  is  no  guarantee  of  her  possessing  that  unusual 
qualification  of  a  woman,  (we  beg  pardon  of  the  sex),  that  of  holding 
her  own  tongue. 

Are  these  advertisements  inserted  in  good  faith,  is  a  very  natural 
inquiry,  and  one  easily  satisfied.  In  nine  cases  out  of  ten.  no. 
Many  of  them  are  published  by  adventurers,  many  by  de-igning 
women,  and  still  more  by  fun-loving  youths.  It  is  dangerous 
playing  with  edged  tools— and  many  a  person  has  found  himself,  or 
herself,  in  trouble  by  answering  these  notices.  If  a  man  wants  a 
wife  a  true,  faithful,  loving  partner— he  will  seek  her  out  himself ; 
he  will  not  advertise  for  her,  like  an  article  of  real  estate  or  a  piece 
of  furniture  ;  if  he  wants  a  mistre.K  he  will  pursue  the  latter  course. 

You  foolish  girl  that  imagine  yourself  in  love  with  u  Adonis' 
and  answer  his  advertisement,  beware!  You  are  laying  a  snare 
into  which,  sooner  or  later,  you  will  fall.  Send  him  your  carle  de 
vixiff— and  then  imagine  how  you  would  feel,  could  you  see  the 
depraved  rascal  into  whose  custody  you  thoughtlessly  and  trustfully 
gave  it,  exhibiting  it  in  bar-rooms  and  other  vile  places,  boasting  of 
how  he  has  the  original  in  his  power.  Would  not  the  blush  of 
shame  man'le  your  brow,  and  the  tremor  of  apprehension  possess 
your  heart  ?  That  villain  has  you  m  his  cluches.  and  if  he  pleases 
can  blast  your  reputation  in  the  eyes  of  the  world. 

We  address  these  remarks  more  especially  to  young  girls — who 
have  the  worst  to  dread  from  an  idle  indulgence  in  this  kind  of 
amusement,  and  who  see  no  harm  in  so  doing.  Put  yourself  in  the 
power  of  no  one  by  answering  matrimonial  advertisements.  If  you 
do,  you  will  regret  your  ill-timed  fool-hardiness  as  long  as  yon  live. 
As  for  the  mm  who  falls  into  the  "  matrimonial  net"  in  this 'manner, 
we  have  but  little  compassion.  He  deserves  his  fate,  and  has  his 
punishment  in  his  experience  and  bitter  reflections.  u  Serves  him 
ri^'at,"  would  be  a  unanimous  verdict  from  any  jury  in  the  land. 
Who  says  the  hero  of  the  following  story  did  not  really  deserve 
what  he  got.  thouorh  after  all  be  cime  off  cheaper  than  he  ought  to  ? 

A  f  irmer  in  McHenry  county.  Illinois,  named  W  .  had  adver- 
tise 1  in  a  Chicago  piper  for  a  wife,  which  was  replied  to  by  a 
dishing  young  law  student  of  Toronto,  ripe  for  fun,  under  the  name 
of  "  Helen  Christopher."  A  warm  correspondence  ensued,  "  Helen" 
imitating  the  hand  and  style  of  a  lady  anxious  to  make  a  good 


18  ROGUERIES  OP  NEW  YORK. 

match,  and  describing  herself  as  an  orphan  of  respectable  family 
connections,  and  of  means,  residing  in  Toronto.  The  correspon- 
dence was  finally  broken  off  by  W  -'s  neglect  in  paying  his 

postage,  which  in  Canada  amounts  to  something,  and  he  married 
some  one  in  his  own  neighborhood.   But  the  sequel  contains  the 

pith  of  the  story.    W  *&  father,  a  minister  in  Vermont,  and  a 

widower,  by  some  means  got  hold  of  "  Helen's"  letters  to  his  son  ; 
and  being  struck  with  her  style  wrote  to  her  with  a  view  of  marry- 
ing her  himself.   He  told  her  that 

"I  am  a  minister  of  the  gospel,  am  unmarried,  buried  a  nice 
little  wife  years  ago,  and  have  no  children  to  tax  the  attention  of  a 
companion.  My  family  is  provided  for  and  off  my  hands.  I  think 
sometimes  of  discontinuing  preaching,  and  of  retiring  to  private 
life.  My  age  people  judge  to  be  thirty-five,  though  I  am  older.  I 
am  above  the  middle  size  of  men,  though  not  large  :  have  perfect 
health,  and  a  fair  position  in  society.  My  complexion  is  dark,  with 
dark  eyes  and  hair  ;  hair  not  tinged  with  grey  in  the  least.  What 
makes  my  complexion  still  darker,  I  wear  a  full  beard  and  mous- 
tache." 

And  queried  :— 

"  May  I  ask  my  little  girl  (if  I  may  be  allowed  to  call  her  so)  if 
you  are  a  Christian  ?  If  you  can  sing  and  play  on  the  melodeon  ? 
If  you  have  good  health  ?   What  is  your  complexion  ?" 

"  Helen"  promptly  replied,  and  an  animated  correspondence  ensued, 
resulting  in  the  reverend  inviting  himself  to  visit  Toronto  to  obtain 
an  interview  with  his  fair  correspondent.  This  was  rather  more  than 
"  Helen"  desired,  and  thinking  it  imprudent  to  bring  the  old  man 
on  a  fool's  errand,  some  six  hundred  mile3  from  his  "  local"  habita- 
tion, sent  him  a  note  over  another  name,  pretending  to  have  acci- 
dentally found  one  of  his  letters,  and  to  be  a  rival  of  his  for  the 
affections  of  "  Helen,"  and  threatening  him  with  castigation  in  case  he 
should  make  his  appearance  in  Toronto. 

Rev.  J.  W.  wrote  again  to  "  Helen,"  disclaiming  any  wrong  inten- 
tions, and  asking  if  his  rival  should  exercise  any  control  over  such 
a  lady.  She  then  replied  that  he  might  come,  when  he  responded 
that  he  would  be  there  on  the  9th  or  10th  of  May,  when  he  expected 
to  meet  his  "  little  girl,"  his  dearest  Helen."  He  arrived  on  the 
day  appointed,  and  sent  his  "  little  girl"  a  note,  desiring  her  to  meet 
him  at  a  certain  hour  at  the  corner  of  a  certain  street.  He  went, 
but  saw  no  one  like  the  photograph  "  Helen"  had  sent  him,  which 
was  the  portrait  of  a  prominent  actress.  But  the  eyes  of  a  large 
party  of  "  Helen's"  acquaintances,  who  had  been  let  into  the  secret, 
were  upon  him.  He  appeared  sadly  disappointed,  being  fidgety  in 
his  movements,  casting  wistful  glances  at  the  passers  by  as  he 
promenaded  the  streets,  whilst  his  tormentors,  for  such  they  were, 
could  scarcely  contain  themselves.  They  were  at  his  side  at  the 
post-office,  on  the  street,  and  even  talking  with  him  in  the  hotel. 

Not  finding  his  "  little  Helen,"  he  concluded  to  leave  town,  but 
"  she  "  determined  he  should  not  go  until  he  had  learned  a  lesson. 
With  his  party  of  friends  he  appeared  at  the  station,  and  stepping 


FORTUNE-TELLING,  ETC.  19 

op  to  the  reverend  gentleman,  as  he  stood  on  the  car  platform,  he 

held  out  bis  hand,  shouting,  "  How  are  you,  W-  ?   How  is  Miss 

Helen  Christopher  ?"   Mr.  J.  W.  became  pale  with  rage,  stamped 
his  foot  on  the  planks,  and,  with  uplifted  hands,  exclaimed,  "  You 
vile  rascal,  how  dare  you  play  me  such  a  trick  ?" 
Just  then  the  train  started,  amid  the  shouts  of  the  merry  young 

fellows  for  W  and  u  Helen  Christopher,"  bearing  off  the  discoin- 

fitted,  foolish  old  lover,  who  will  probably  never  get  a  wife  by 
advertising. 

The  story  contains  a  moral,  and  a  forcible  one  at  that 

Young  man,  if  you  want  a  good,  virtuous  wife,  you  will  not  get 

her  by  advertising.   You  must  seek  her  out  and  deserve  her. 

Young  girl,  your  husband  will  come  along  by  and  by— but  not 

through  the  matrimonial  columns  of  a  newspaper ! 


CHAPTER  IV. 

■  PERSONALS." 

The  "personal"  column  of  a  newspaper  is  a  very  convenient 
method  of  communication.    To  use  a  hiberuicism,  "  though  public 
'tis  private."    When  interviews  are  impossible  or  dangerous,  and 
where  letters  may  be  discovered  or  intercepted,  a  "  personal"  can 
be  read  by  thousands  and  yet  understood  only  by  the  one  writing 
and  the  one  to  whom  it  is  addressed.    The  opportunity  thus  offered 
I  for  clandestine  correspondence  is  not  neglected,  and  is  used  by  all 
» classes.   The  procuress,  the  roue,  the  gambler,  the  abortionist ; 
pickpockets,  thieves,  burglars,  and  criminals  of  every  degree,  plot, 
intrigue  and  prey  upon  society  through  these  "  personals" — lay 
their  plans,  and  mature  their  designs.    In  a  recent  celebrated 
divorce  trial,  in  which  the  wife  was  charged  with  adultery,  it  was 
proved  that-the  criminal  and  her  paramour  arranged  their  interviews 
through  a  cypher  personal. 
Let  us  take  a  glance  at  a  few  of  them  : 
"  Ike  -  crack  to-night  at  *****  st.    12  *." 

This  is  all  Greek  to  the  uninitiated.  Let  a  detective  have  a 
glance  at  it  a  moment  ;  he  will  see  through  it,  and  interpret  it  thus  — 
"  Ike,  we  will  1  crack '  (slang  for  '  break  into ')  the  store  in  Reade 
(five  stars)  street.  Be  on  hand  at  12  o'clock."  The  detective  may 
be  wrong  as  to  the  name  of  the  street,  but  he  is  confident  that  a 
burglary  is  to  be  attempted  somewhere  that  night! 

"  '  Meet  me  at  moonlight  '—Taylor's,  10." 

An  illicit  appointment,  probably  at  Saloon. 

"  How  are  you,  Harry.    Does  your  mother  know  you're  out  V1 

This  exceedeth  our  comprehension. 

"See  '  *  *  *  *." 

The  above  is  "  seeing  stars"  without  the  aid  of  a  telescope  t 

u  If  the  young  lady  with  the  blue  silk  dress  and  white  bonnet,  who 


20  ROGUERIES  OF  NEW  YORK. 

smiled  at  the  gentleman  in  the  Bleecker  street  stage  on  Monday,  will 

address  a  note  to  P  ,  P.  0.,  she  will  hear  of  something  to  her 

advantage." 

Yes,  and  place  herself,  if  she  is  a  virtuous  woman,  in  the  hands 
of  some  scoundrel,  and  be  made  to  serve  his  own  vile  purpose  I 

"  A  female  infant,  a  few  days  old,  to  be  adopted  out.  Apply  to 
Madame  R  ,  No.  street" 

Some  offspring  of  shame  or  dishonour,  whom  a  noted  abortionist 
agrees  to  get  out  of  the  way,  to  save  its  mother  the  consequences  of 
her  sin  or  folly. 

"Lydia— Return  to  your  father,  and  all  will  be  forgiven." 

Half  a  dozen  words  only,  but  what  emotions  and  suffering  do  they 
express.  A  daughter's  fall,  disgrace,  repentance— a  parent's  curse 
perhaps — but  then  forgiveness  and  welcome  home. 

And  so  on,  day  after  day,  similar  paragraphs  and  sentences  are 
published,  read  and  forgotten  -  while  the  world  wags  on  the  same 
as  ever,  as  if  there  were  upon  its  broad  bosom  no  such  thing  as 
human  trouble,  human  misery,  or  human  affliction. 


CHAPTER  V. 

FORTUNE  TELLING — THE  WITCHES  OF  NEW  YORK. 

Credulity,  next  to  curiosity,  is  the  great  failing  of  the  gentler 
sex,  and  one  that  leads  them  into  all  manner  of  scrapes  and  per- 
plexities. Feeling  the  force  of  this  remark,  it  is  in  no  wise  a  hard 
task  to  account  for  the  thriving  business  done  by  the  "  fortune  tel- 
lers" or  self-styled  "  astrologists"  of  New  York.  With  an  intimate 
knowledge  of  the  weaknesses,  desires,  and  anticipations  of  feminin- 
ity, they  are  enabled  successfully  to  carry  on  their  avocation  tc 
their  own  pecuniary  benefit,  at  the  expense  to  their  dupes,  of  botl 
time  and  money.  The  infirmides  and  failings  of  humanity  are  un 
changed  and  unchangeable,  and  are  pretty  much  the  same  in  al 
ages  and  all  countries.  The  longing  to  peer  into  the  future  and  t< 
see  afar  off  the  events  of  after-life,  is  as  strong  in  the  maidens  an< 
wives  of  to-day,  as  it  was  in  the  minds  of  their  ancestors  genera 
tions  ago,  and  this,  too,  in  spite  of  our  boasted  "  latter-day  civiliza 
tion." 

It  would  be  an  interesting  subject; — that  of  an  investigation  int 
the  origin,  continuance  and  practice,  of  the  mysteries  of  the  "  blac 
art,"  or  at  least  that  branch  of  it  devoted  to  the  "  science  of  astro 
ogy  but  such  a  purpose  is  beyond  the  scope  of  this  work.  T 
the  "system"  of  "  fortune-telling"  -the  snares  and  deception 
practiced  by  the  "  witches  of  New  York,"  as  they  have  been  appr< 
priately  called,  we  shall  devote  a  few  pages. 

Fortune  tellers  seldom  are  heard  of  "  out  of  town,"  though  ever 
now  and  then  the  people  of  some  far  away  town,  or  villagt 
are  startled  and  excited  by  the  appearance  among  them  of  a  "  sevent 


22 


ROGUERIES  OP  NEW  YORK. 


(laughter  of  a  seventh  daughter,"  who.  for  "  a  consideration,"  reveals 
to  each  and  every  one  who  may  be  silly  enough  to  place  reliance  ia 
her  pretensions  "  to  rule  the  stars,"  the  secrets  of  his  or  her  future 
life.  Occasionally  a  stray  gipsey  strolls  along,  and  with  mysterious 
words  and  strange,  outlandish  gestures,  delivers  the  decrees  of  fate  ; 
not,  however,  until  her  "palm  has  been  crossed  with  silver,"  not  as 
a  means  of  gain  ;  oh,  no  !  but  merely  for  "  good  luck."  But  it  is 
not  with  the  u  customs  of  the  country"  that  we  have  now  to  deal 
with,  but  rather  with  those  of  the  city,  where  fortune-telling  is  a 
(il)legitimate  calling,  and  practiced  by  scores  of  people  as  a  liveli- 
hood or  means  of  gain. 

All  classes  of  society,  from  the  judge  upon  the  bench  to  the  poor 
darkey  playing  policy,  patronize  these  "  future  revealers."  planing 
apparently  implicit  confidence  and  belief  in  their  prophecies. 
Clergymen  have  even  been  known  to  visit  them,  and  ask  counsel 
from  their  dark  sayings.  Young  and  giddy  girls,  whose  brains,  if 
they  have  any,  are  turned  by  the  perusal  of  sensational  romances — 
and  the  so-called  "  light-literature"  of  the  day,  are  the  best  customers. 
The  "  foreign  count,"  the  officer  in  the  army,"  or  "  rich  planter," 
whom  the  silly  child  believes  is  some  time  or  other  coming  to 
many  her,  is  ever  present  in  her  thoughts.  Herself  in  her  own  es- 
timation a  "  heroine,"  she  is  ever  on  the  look-out  for  the  "  noble, 
brave,  and  handsome  hero"  who  is  to  offer,  on  bended  knees,  his 
fortune,  name,  and  honor. 

But  it  is  not  only  giddy  girls,  ignorant  servants  and  other  foolish 
women  that  thus  easily  dupe  themselves,  as  hinted  above;  all  kinds 
and  qualities  of  man,  as  well  as  woman-kind,  consult  these  seers.  We 
can  call  to  mind  a  respectable  merchant  of  this  city  engaged  pre- 
vious to  the  war  in  a  large  wholesale  Southern  business,  that  made 
it  a  practice  to  visit  Madame  Morrow,  \  notorious  character,  pre- 
vious to  entering  on  any  speculation,  placing  the  utmost  confidence 
in  her  advice,  and  when  after  disastrous  ventures  he  failed,  he 
actually  attributed  his  ruin  to  a  neglect  of  her  warnings  and  pre- 
dictions. 

Curiosity  is  the  plea  of  many  visitors  to  these  sorceresses.  How 
common  it  is  to  hear  a  girl  say  she  is  going  to  have  her  "  fortune 
told,"  asserting  at  the  same  time  that  the  step  is  prompted  solely 
by  curiosity,  while  she  is  perfectly  aware,  and  her  auditor  also, 
that  she  will  swallow  every  word  that  i3  told  as  so  much  Gospel 
truth ! 

Though  in  direct  violation  of  jaw,  fortune-tellers  exercise  their 
vocation  without  fear  or  favor.  Their  residences  are  well-known, 
and  their  advertisements  appear  in  nearly  every  influential  jour- 
nal in  the  land.  We  give  a  few  specimens  of  the  latter,  clipped 
at  random,  from  the  columns  of  the  Herald,  which  appears  to  a  cer- 
tain extent  to  be  their  favorite  organ,  charging  nothing  for  is  first 
rate  notice,  omitting  only  the  residences : 

"  A  n  xa  fidk  AsfROLOGTST — Madame  Wilson  tells  the  object  of 
your  visit,  &c.    Over  the  bakery.'7 

"  Tells  the  object  of  your  visit!"   Wonderful  woman!  Madame 


FORTUNE-TELLING,  ETC. 


'23 


W.,  has  an  idea  that  some  people  may  mistrust  her.  and  so  she  as- 
serts her  claim  as  a  bona  fide  Astrologist.  Though  others  may  be 
humbugs,  she  is  in  good  faith  a  perfect  witch.  Queer  place  for  a 
woman  of  her  profession  to  live  over  a  bakery — but  perhaps  while 
relieving  xbe  hunger  of  the  soul  after  knowledge,  she  at  the  same 
time  administers  to  the  wants  of  the  physical  body  by  providing 
the  staff  of  life. 

u  A  Real  Fact  — No  Imposition  — Madam  S.  from  Europe,  the 
greatest  Clairvoyant  known,  offers  $5,000  reward  to  any  one  who 
can  equal  her  in  telling  past,  present,  and  future  ;  shows  the  like- 
ness and  tells  his  name.  Gents  not  admitted.  Ladies  50  cents  to 
$1." 

Astounding  !  a  mi  fart,  and  no  imposition.  "Ladies,"  pay  your 
fee,  "from  50c.  to  SI.  according  to  the  extent  and  value  of  the  in- 
formation/' and  receive  your  money's  worth  in  undiluted  prophecy  ! 
u  Gents  not  admitted."  Alas !  that  man  must  grope  in  a  dark  future 
while  weak  and  frail  woman  receives  a  lamp  to  guide  her  faltering 
steps. 

In  order  to  test  the  wonderful  powers  of  Madam  S..  the  writer 
himself  paid  a  visit  to  the  lady.  Being  of  rather  small  stature  and 
not  a  bad  mimic,  with  a  slight  tigure,  and  quite  a  modulated  voice, 
(assisted  by  a  disguise  from  a  female  friend's  wardrobe,  including, 
among  other  articles  of  costume,  a  heavy  veil),  he  had  but  little 
difficulty  in  passing  off  for  one  of  the  gentler  sex.  Driving  up  to 
the  door  of  the  fortune-teller's  abode  in  a  carriage,  he  (or  she")  rang 
the  front  door-bell.  The  summons  was  answered  by  the  appearance 
of  a  dirty,  slatternly  servant-girl,  who,  in  a  rich  brogue  demanded 
what    ve  s  wanted." 

"  Can  I  see  Madam  S.  ?" 

"  Sure  she's  ingaged — but  you  can  walk  in,"  at  the  same  time 
throwing  open  the  door  and  motioning  to  enter. 

The  visitor  in  a  moment  found  him=elf  in  a  small  parlor  to  the 
left  of  the  hall,  scantily  furnished.  Seated  on  a  sofa,  he  noticed 
two  ladies  waiting,  it  afterwards  appeared,  for  their  turn  for  an  in- 
terview with  the  seer.  Keeping  the  veil  down  and  thus  conceiling 
his  face,  he  picked  up  a  book  the  "  Oracle  of  Fate,"  and  while,  to 
all  appearances  deeply  engaged  in  scanning  its  pages,  kept  his  eyes 
fixed  upon  his  companions  ;  and  here  it  must  be  confessed,  a  sense 
of  the  dangers  of  his  enterprise,  suddenly  flashed  upon  him.  What 
if  he  should  betray  his  sex  through  some  inadvertent  movement  ? 
suppose  an  accident  should  happen  to  any  portion  of  his  attire ! 
Already  a  strange  feeling  stole  over  him  as  he  beheld  the  glances 
of  the  ladies  opposite,  diverted  towards  his  feet.  Following  tho 
direction  of  their  eyes,  what  was  his  alarm  and  mortification  on  dis- 
covering  the— to  him  appalling  fact  that  his  (her)  petti  (ex- 
cuse the  slip  of  the  pen)  undergarment  had  slipped  down  before  he 
had  seated  himself,  and  was  now  lying  in  a  told  at  his  feet.  To 
stoop  and  gather  it  up  was  the  first*  impulse  ;  but  while  preparing 
to  do  so,  one  of  the  females  and  by  far  the  prettier,  rising,  ap- 
proached, and  smilling  sweetly,  said  : 


24 


ROGUERTES  IN  NEW  YORK. 


"  Madam,  your  petti  "  there  it  must  be  uttered,  "  your  petti- 
coat has  slipped  down  ;  allow  me  to  assist  you." 

Suiting  the  action  to  the  word,  she  stooped  down  and  laid  her 
hands  upon  the  article.  Qh,  that  the  floor  could  have  opened  and 
swallowed  this  unfortunate  Bohemian  '?  What  could — what  should 
he  do  ?  Here  was  a  fix !  No  time  was  left  for  thought.  What 
next  would  have  occurred  it  is  hard  to  say,  had  not  a  door  commu- 
nicating with  a  back  room  partially  opened,  and  the  servant,  pre- 
viously alluded  to,  thrust  her  head  through  the  aperture,  with  a  re- 
quest for  "  them  two  ladies  to  walk  in."  This  interruption  gave  the 
hero  of  the  predicament  an  opportunity  to  partially  recover  his 
equanimity,  and  to  stammer  out  to  his  fair  would-be  assistant — 

"  Thank  you,  I  can  help  myself." 

A  gesture  from  the  other  female,  and  without  further  ado,  both 
passed  through  the  door,  and  the  unfortunate  victim  of  the  "  pur- 
suit of  knowledge  under  difficulties"  left  to  his  own  reflections. 
Once  alone  it  did  not  take  him  long  to  gather  up  the  offending  gar- 
ment and  pack  it  away  close  in  under  his  shawl.  An  interval  of 
half  an  hour  perhaps,  and  he  was  beckoned  into  the  mysterious 
sanctum  of  the  famous  fortune-teller.  A  small  room  with  a  rag 
carpet  upon  the  floor,  a  small  lounge  in  one  corner,  two  or  three 
chairs,  and  a  book  case  containing  half  a  dozen  volumes  conspicu- 
ous among  them,  singular  to  say  a  large  Bible  and  two  or  three 
common  prints  upon  the  walls.  These  were  the  "  surroundings,"  so 
to  speak. 

Seated  in  a  rocking-chair  near  the  table,  immediately  in  the  cen- 
tre of  the  apartment,  was  a  woman,  apparently  about  forty  years 
of  age.  Her  features,  from  a  hasty  glance,  were  coarse,  not  to  say 
repulsive,  and  decidedly  Hibernian.  Attired  in  a  calico  morning- 
gown,  none  the  better  for  wear,  wich  a  flaunting  head-dress  perched 
upon  the  top  of  hair  the  color  of  brick-dust,  the  presence  of  the 
"  .Madam"  did  not  create  a  very  favorable  impression  upon  the 
mind  of  her  visitor.  Would  her  prophetic  ken  detect  the  disguise 
of  her  customer  and  if  so  what  would  be  the  consequence  ? 

"  Be  seated,  mademoiselle,"  with  an  inimitable  pronunciation  of 
the  French  designation,  "and  please  to  raise  your  veil." 

The  first  command  was  obeyed  at  once,  but  the  second  only  after 
some  hesitation.  Now  was  the  critical  moment.  A  pause-,  a  rapid 
glance  from  Madam — and  all  was  well!  The  disguise  was  too 
much  for  her. 

"  You  want  your  fortune  told  ?   The  fee  if  you  please." 
"  How  much  is  it  ?" 
"One  dollar." 

The  greenback  was  produced,  handed  over,  placed  in  Madam's 
capacious  pocket-book,  and  safely  deposited  in  the  bosom  of  her 
gown. 

"  Now,  we  are  ready.   You  are  not  timorous  nor  nervous." 
"  Not  in  the  least." 

•  Throwing  herself  on  the  lounge,  the  great "  clairvoyant"  was  soon 

in  a  stupor ;  eagerly  clutching  the  hand  of  her  "  dupe"  she  fixed 
her  eyes  with  a  strong  glare  upon  those  of  the  latter,  and  after  a 


FORTUNE-TELLING,  ETC. 


25 


convulsive  movement  of  the  features,  articulated  the  following,  to 
all  appearances  with  great  physical  effort. 

"  You  was  bom  in  this  country  ;  (that's  not  so  to  begin  with). — 
Your  parents  are  dead ;  (years  ago). — You  live  by  your  labor ; 
(true  enough).— You  are  not  yet  20  ;  (40  last  birthday)  and  have  a 
long  life  before  you ;  (good  news).  Troubles  and  dangers  beset 
your  path.  You  will  pass  through  great  affliction,  but  will  come 
out  all  right  in  the  end  (satisfactory),  a  young  man  is  greatly  in 
love  with  you  (!)  and  would  give  all  he  is  worth  to  marry  you  (!). 
You  do  not  care  for  him,  however,  and  will  never  marry  him  (not 
at  all  probable).  You  will  not  marry  until  you  are  twenty-five, 
and  then  your  husband  will  be  a  widower  with  three  children  (!). 
He  will  treat  you  unkindly,  but  happily  he  will  not  live  long,  and 
you  will  marry  again.  Between  the  death  of  your  first  husband  and 
your  second  marriage,  quite  a  long  time  will  elapse,  and  during 
that  period,  dark  clouds  will  cover  the  path  of  your  life  j  but  with 
a  brave  heart  and  unconquerable  will  you  will  surmount  the  many 
trials  and  temptations  to  which  you  will  be  exposed.  The  number 
6  is  very  unlucky  for  you,  (indeed  !)  beware  of  it  You  was  born 
in  1846  ;  you  will  die  (uttered  with  a  voice  of  solemn  warning) 
when  you  are  56  !" 

An  interval  of  silence — a  start: — and  Madame  came  out  of  her 
"  trance."   She  had  earned  her  dollar  in  about  ten  minutes  1 

"  Do  you  wish  to  see  your  first  husband  ?" 

"  If  possible." 

"  The  charge  is  fifty  cents  extra." 

The  stamp  was  produced.  Advancing  to  the  table  Madame  re- 
moved a  cover  from  a  square  box — a  stereopticon,  in  short — and 
bade  the  *  Mademoiselle  look  in."  The  latter  did  so,  and  there, 
sure  enough,  beheld  the  form  and  features  of  her  intended,  standing 
out  in  bold  relief,  with  the  usual  effect  of  a  stereoscope.  But  odd 
as  it  may  seem  the  likeness  was  nothing  more  nor  less  than  a  carte  de 
via  le  of  a  celebrated  actor.  Whether  it  got  into  the  box  by  accident 
or  whether  Madame  presumed  upon  the  ignorance  of  her  visitor,  it 
is  hard  to  say.   But  such  was  the  fact. 

A  ring  at  the  door-bell  announced  another  customer,  and  our 
"  young  lady"  took  her  departure,  a  dollar  and  a  half  poorer  than 
when  she  entered,  but  with  "  her"  conviction  strengthened  in  the 
already  entertained  belief  that  Madame  S.  is  not  only  a  shameless 
humbug,  but  such  a  poor  judge  of  human  nature  that  she  is  notable 
to  discern  the  character  of  her  silly  dupes,  let  alone  their  sex,  even 
when  most  feebly  disguised. 

The  next  on  the  list  is  a  wizzard  who  advertises  as  follows  : 

"A.  B.  M  .  Real  Astkologer  of  America. — Points  out  enemies 

on  sea  and  land  ;  reveals  secrets  no  mortal  ever  knew  before  ;  how 
to  be  successful  in  any  undertaking ;  tells  the  very  day  you  marry, 
name,  likeness  and  a  full  description  of  the  intended  husband  or 
wife.  A  speedy  marriage,  health,  wealth,  long  life  and  good  luck 
to  all  who  consult  him.  A  written  destiny  by  letter  $1.  Ladies  50c. 
gentlemen  $1." 

This  individual  has  evidently  dealings  with  his  Satanic  majesty. 


26 


ROGUERIES  OF  NEW  YORK. 


"  Reveals  secrets  no  mortal  ever  knew  before  ;"  "  points  out  your 
enemies  on  sea  and  land,"  &c,  &c,  and  all  for  50c.  for  ladies,  and 
£1  for  gentlemen  !  Is  it  easier  to  satisfy  a  lady's  curiosity  than  a 
gentleman's  ?  We  should  think  not,  and  were  we  to  set  up  in  busi- 
ness we  would  just  reverse  the  charges.  This  individual,  it  is  said, 
is  no  stranger  to  the  police  courts,  and  has  been  more  than  once 
suspected  of  pimping  or  procuring  the  ruin  of  young  girls  and  of 
levying  black  mail  upon  his  "gentlemen"  visitors! 
But  once  more  "  tlict  aux  dame:" 

The  Original  Madame  B  ,  from  Paris.— Greatest  Spiritual- 
ist, Medical  and  Business  Clairvoyant  known ;  has  that  never  failing 
secret  to  cause  speedy  marriages. 

An  equally  great  humbug  with  Madame  S. 

"  Mm.  M  ,  Seventh  Daughter  of  the  Seventh  Sov. — Impres- 

sional  medium  on  all  the  affairs  of  life,  numbers,  charms. 

This  woman  lives  on  the  second  floor  of  a  tenement  house,  in  a 
disreputable  street  Her  business  is  a  flourishing  one,  though  her 
patrons  are  chiefly  poor  and  ignorant  girls. 

"  From  one  learn  all,"  and  from  the  above  a  clear  idea  may  be 
obtained  of  the  pretensions  of  New  York  fortune-tellers.  Here  is  a 
final  instance : 

"  Your  Destiny. — Mme  IdaP  ,  (just  arrived  from  Corsica),  the 

seventh  daughter  of  a  seventh  son,  will  send  a  correct  likeness  of 
your  future  wife  or  husband,  for  25  cents  and  a  three  cent  postage 
stamp  ;  or  the  likeness  and  post-office  address  of  your  intended,  for 
50  cents  and  a  three-cent  stamp.  Be  carefnl  to  send  date  of  birth, 
color  of  eyes  and  hair,  and  your  P.  0.  address."  . 

"  All  for  25  cents  and  a  three-cent  stamp  to  prepay  postage."  Is 
it  possible  that  there  are  people  in  this  enlightened  age  so  foolish, 
so  utterly  devoid  of  the  first  grains  of  common  sense,  as  to  put  any 
faith  in  such  transparent  humbug  ?  It  is  not  only  possible,  but  an 
actual  fact,  as  the  thousands  of  letters,  passing  through  the  post- 
office  addressed  to  Madame  P.,  from  all  parts  of  the  country,  bear 
witness.  There  are  hundreds  of  just  such  impostors  as  she  in  every 
city  in  the  land,  each  and  every  one  of  whom  has  in  proportion  a 
corresponding  number  of  victims. 

Fortune  telling  by  cards,  as  a  general  thing,  is  not  practiced 
among  the  "witches"  now  as  formerly.  This  method  of  peering 
into  thu  future  has  gone  out  of  fashion,  and  clairvoyancy  is  at  pre- 
sent the  favorite  method.  It  makes  but  little  difference,  however,  in 
what  way  people  are  swindled  -  as  long  as  money,  the  main  object 
— can  be  extorted. 

A  profitable  source  of  revenue  is  the  sale  of  "  chances"  supposed 
to  possess  certain  peculiar  qualities,  such  as  u  creating  love,"  "  pro- 
ducing wealth,"  "  making  plain  people  handsome,"  etc.  From  a 
private  circular  issued  by  a  somewhat  notorious  astrologist  we  clip 
the  following  catalogue  of  the  articles  for  sale  in  this  branch  of  the 
profession : 

"  The  Gypsies  Secret  Chabms." — Charm  No.  One. — "  Elixir  of 


GIFT  CONCERTS  AND  GIFT  JEWELRY. 


27 


Love  and  Sympathetic  Ingredients.  This  is  an  occult  wubttanee  to 
Wear  over  the  Heart.  It  imparts  an  Influence  from  nim  or  h,r  who 
wears  it.  to  and  upon  such  as  do  not  wear  it,  as  to  make  them  so 
completely  subject  to  the  hirer's  wilt,  that  they  a  not  deny  the 
wearer's  wish  or  will  in  anything.  The  Wearer  or*  the  E  our  J  L  >»■ 
holds  a  mo3t  Weird  Magical  and  Mysterious  Power  over  "/>//  and 
every  one  upon  whom  he  or  she  sets  their  mind,  will  or  power.  Dis- 
tance makes  no  difference.  I  warrant  it  as  sure  and  simple,  and  send 
full  <ecnt  instructions.   Price  $3.39. 

Charm  No.  2.— Is  calculated  to  win  the  affections  of  the  oppose 
sex.  excite  their  admiration,  and  secure  their  undivided  love.  Ex- 
plained in  full  directions. 

Chirm  No  3.— Will  give  you  an  influence  over  your  enemies  or 
rivals,  moulding  them  to  your  own  will  or  purpose. 

Charm  No.  4. — Will  enable  you  to  discover  lost,  stolen,  or  hidden 
treasure. 

For  each  of  these  "  invaluable  recipes"  the  u  small  sum"'  of  five 
dollars  is  demanded,  or  "all  tour  will  be  sent  for  SIS." 

"  Love  powders,"  M  amulets,"  "  mystic  wigs,"  M  magic  breast- 
pins," etc.,  etc.,  go  to  make  up  the  array  of  charms. 

A  majority  of  the  fortune-tellers  of  New  York,  are  nothing  more 
nor  less  than  Procuresses  or  Ahortiowst>.  And  it  is  in  this  light  that 
warning  is  needed  to  caution  the  unsuspecting  against  them.  Many 
a  girl  dates  her  ruin,  and  many  a  wife  her  dishonor,  from  a  visit  to 
the  abode  of  one  of  these  women.  This  needs  but  to  be  known  to 
serve  as  an  admonition.  Instances  without  number  might  be  cited 
to  prove  this  assertion.  Leagued  with  debauchees,  and  keepers  of 
brothels,  the  fortune  teller  spreads  the  net  which  eventually  entraps 
the  unwary.  Let  this  brief  allusion  suffice  to  place  our  readers  on 
their  guard.  To  further  prove  by  facts  what  we  have  written, 
would  be  to  invite  details  offensive  to  virtue  and  insulting  to  mo- 
desty. 

Avoid  these  "  strange  women."  if  you  would  save  your  money, 
time  and  self-condemnation.  Let  the  "  future"  take  c  ire  of  Itself  j 
look  out  for  the  present,  take  our  advice,  and  you  will  be  the  bet- 
ter for  it,  both  in  pocket  and  spirit. 


CHAPTER  VL 

GTFT  CONCERTS  AXD  GI7T  JKWEf.RY 

The  day  of  gift  book  enterprises  as  an  institution,  is  past,  though 
not  long  ago  they  flourished  to  the  great  pecuniary  benefit  of  their 
concoctors  and  managers.  Similar  and  no  less  dangerous  swindles, 
however,  have  taken  their  place  from  time  to  time,  and  it  is  to  aa 
exposition  of  these  that  this  chapter  is  devoted. 

Gift  Concerts  have  of  late  been  fashionable  and  very  successful. 
Given  ostensibly  under  the  auspices  of  certain  "Associations,"  they 
have  about  them  a  degree  of  respectability  that  goes  far  to  redeem 


28 


ROGUERIES  OF  NEW  YORK. 


them  from  any  suspicion  of  chei'ery  (a  word  not  found  in  the  diction- 
ary) that  might  otherwise  attach  to  them.  A  series  of  these  u  enter- 
tainments" was  recently  given  at  the  Academy  of  Music,  which 
netied  to  the  projectors  thousands  of  dollars.  The  same  individu- 
als, viz  :  u  The  Jewellers'  Manufacturing  Association"  are  now 
perambulating  the  country,  vi.-iting  the  different  ci;ies  and  towns 
of  the  interior,  pocketing  greenbacks  by  the  wholesale.  No  doubt 
the  members  of  the  "  Association"  will  decidedly  object  to  being 
called  sunwiterf.  So  we  will  not  class  them  under  that  head,  but 
simply  detail  their  mode  of  operations,  leaving  the  reader  to  draw 
his  own  inference  of  their  character.  The  parties  have  already 
been  in  court,  as  the  following  extract  from  the  Boston  Juumai  of 
a  recent  date  will  show  : 

"  Yesterday  afternoon  Ellis  H.  Elias,  Joseph  H.  Clennan.  John  E. 
Wilder,  James  Elliott.  John  J.  Grange,  John  P.  A.  Yail,  Henry  Mil- 
denberg,  J.  J.  Miller,  Josiah  Talmige,  Charles  S.  Meyers,  and  Daniel 
F.  Yogle,  the  parties  connected  with  the  1  New  York  Jewellers'  As- 
sociation,' at  192  Washington  street,  were  before  the  Police  Court  on 
complaint  alleging  that  they  1  did  unlawfully  set  up  a  lottery  in  which 
certain  articles  of  personal  property  and  of  value  were  disposed  of 
by  way  of  lottery,  and  that  the  same  parties  did.  under  pretext  of 
a  sale  of  admission  to  a  certain  concert,  dispose  of  certain  personal 
property  of  value,  with  the  intent  to  make  the  disposal  of  said  per- 
sonal property  dependent  upon  chance  by  a  gambling  device, 
whereby  said  chance  was  made  an  additional  inducement  to  the  sale 
of  said  concert  tickets,  against  the  peace  of  the  Commonwealth  and 
the  form  of  the  statute  in  such  cases  made  and  provided.'  " 

The  defendants  waived  the  reading  of  the  complaint,  and  Elias, 
the  owner  of"  the  stock  in  the  store,  was  held  in  -2000  bonds  for  his 
appearance  for  examination.  Monroe  T.  Quimby,  manufacturer  of 
jewelry,  became  bondsman  for  Elias. 

The  other  defendants  were  held  in  $500  bonds  each  for  their  ap- 
pearance at  the  same  time,  Mr.  Elias  becoming  the:r  surety,  he  mak- 
ing oath  that  he  was  sole  owner  of  the  stock,  worth  $_0.0U0  at  least, 
in  the  store  102  Washington  street,  besides  $5000  or  $6000  in  dia- 
monds and  watches  outside  of  the  store,  his  wife  having  a  set  of 
diamonds  worth  -3000,  and  he  having  other  diamonds  and  three  or 
four  very  valuable  watches. 

The  Association  pretends  to  sell  a  ticket  of  admission  to  one  of 
their  concerts,  affording  the  purchaser  at  the  same  time  an  opportu- 
nity of  obtaining  an  article  of  jewelry  worth  at  least  the  value  of 
the'  money,  SL  The  gift  is  selected  by  the  holder  of  the  ticket  in 
this  way.  Some  two  or  three  hundred  envelopes,  containing  as 
many  cards,  are  placed  in  a  long,  narrow  box.  in  a  conspicuous  place. 
Each  card  is  in-crlbed  wi  h  the  name  of  some  article  of  jewelry — 
"  one  gold  locket  ;"  i;  one  jet  breastpin  ;"  "  one  silver  salver."  etc., 
and  so  on.  td  Ih'um.  The  purchaser  of  the  ticket  selects  one  of 
these  envelopes,  opens  it,  takes  out  the  card,  hands  it  to  the  gentle- 
manly clerk  in  attendance,  who  forthwith  presents  him  with  the  cor- 
responding gift.   u  All  fair  and  above  board,"  apparently. 


GIFT  CONCERTS  AND  GIFT  JEWELRY.  29 


And  as  to  the  "  jewelry,"  the  gold  is  washed  brass  or  oreide.the  sil- 
ver block  tin.  and  the  "  elegant  jet"  gutta  percha :  a  dozen  solid 
"  gold"  rings,  or  breastpins,  or  bracelets  of  this  description  would 
hardly  bring  a  dollar  in  the  ordinary  course  of  trade !  The  diamonds 
— of  which  such  an  elegant  display  is  made  at  the  "  warerooms  of 
the  Association,"  are  nothing  but  pas  e,  at  the  most  worth  but  a  few 
cents,  and  which  no  respectable  gentleman  or  lady  would  look  at 
for  a  moment,  let  alone  think  of  wearing.  Of  course  there  are  a 
large  number  of  really  fine  watches  exposed  to  view  in  handsome 
show-cases  which  the  "  Actuary"  of  the  concern  solemnly  assures 
visitors  are  for  disposal ;  be  and  his  polite  assistants  reiterate  the 
same  fact  in  reference  to  the  grand  pianos,  to  be  seen  and  heard  on 
the  premises.  But  who  ever  heard  of  an  "  outsider"  drawiug  a 
"beautiful"  timekeeper  or  a  "magnificent"  piano?  Occasionally 
some  one  d  es  secure  these  prizes,  but  the  fortunate  individual  is  a 
member  of  the  firm,  and  his  lucky  drawing  is  a  "  blind"  and  part  ol 
the  business. 

These  jewellers  are  about "  played  out"  as  far  as  New  York  is 
concerned,  but  let  our  country  cousins  beware  of  them,  give  them  a 
u  wide  berth"  and  refuse  to  listen  to  the  musical  voice  of  their  charm- 
ing, u  charm  they  never  so  wisely." 

It  is  a  singular  coincidence  that  the  same  day  and  almost  at  tho 
same  hour  that  the  "jewellers"  were  before  the  bar  of  justice,  that 
another  method  of  u  pulling  the  wire,"  over  the  eyes  of  the  public 
should  be  under  consideration  before  by  the  same  court.  We  take 
from  the  official  record  this  extract,  which,  in  itself,  is  an  explana- 
tion of  the  new  manner  in  which  the  "gift  enterprise"  is  conducted: 

"John  S.  Andrew,  proprietor  of  the  establishment  at  108  Sudbury 
street,  was  arraigned  on  a  complaint  made  under  the  same  statute  as 
in  the  other  case,  but  alleging  a  somewhat  different  mode  of  con- 
ducting the  business,  wuch  is  as  follows  :  Circulars  are  issued  from 
the  conc<4rn,  stating  that  they  have  a  rich  and  valuable  stock  of 
goods  that  have  not  been  redeemed,  which  are  offered  for  sale  at  $1 
each,  comprising  articles  valued  at  from  75  cents  to  $3.  Any  per- 
son sending  25  cents  can  receive  a  certificate,  which  informs  him 
what  he  has  drawn,  and  by  paying  one  dollar  he  can  secure  the 
prize,  if  he  desires  to  do  so.  By  clubbing  together  these  certificates 
can  be  purchased  for  about  ten  cents  apiece.  Mr.  A.  waived  a  hear- 
ing in  the  case,  and  was  held  to  bail  in  the  sum  of  $201)0  to  appear 
when  called  upon." 

The  circulars  referred  to  in  the  complaint  are  sent  far  and  wide 
through  all  the  States  and  elicit  many  letters  in  reply — accompa- 
nied by  names  of  subscribers — each  of  these  responses  containing 
often  twenty  ur  more  orders,  with  the  cash  therefore.  Hundreds  of 
these  documents  were  seized  by  the  officers  at  the  Post-Office.  Here 
is  a  specimen  one  : 

"  I  do  not  send  you  but  31  names,  they  ar  a  fraid  that  the  things 
ar  not  what  you  say  thar  ar.  If  the  things  look  well  when  thay 
cum,  I  can  get  you  a  largar  club,  write  to  me  if  theare  will  be  more 
cloathing.   if  I  get  up  a  club  of  250, 1  shuld  like  to  have  that  watch 


30  ROGUERIES  IN  NEW  YORK. 

a  lever  hunter.  I  do  not  think  You  will  lose  ennytbing  by  it  for  the 
nabers  say  it  will  not  be  wurth  half  prise.  Let  them  see,  Be  sure 
and  ty  the  ticket  on  everything  that  You  send  becaus  thar  ar  some 
je^t  alike  and  they  cannot  find  no  fait  if  the  ticket  is  on  every  ar- 
tikal." 

No  doubt  these  enterprises  are  of  the  purest  benevolence— at 
least  such  is  the  impression  their  projectors  seek  10  convey.  That 
everybody  who  wants  a  gold  watch  for  a  dollar  may  know  how  to 
get  it,  we  copy  the  following  extract  from  the  advertisement  -  with- 
out charge,  on  this  occasion  : 

"  One  million  certificates,  bearing  upon  their  face  the  names  of 
the  articles  as  above  enumerated,  are  each  inclosed  in  plain  enve- 
lopes, and  sealed,  undistinguishable  one  from  another,  mixed  and 
placed  in  a  repository,  without  choice,  and  they  are  drawn  as  or- 
dered. The  sealed  envelopes  containing  certificates  marked  with 
the  name  of  the  article,  description,  and  marked  price  it  entitles  the 
holder  to,  will  be  sent  by  mail  to  any  address  at  25  cents  each  ;  on 
receipt  of  the  certificates,  the  purchaser  ascertains  the  exact  article 
he  is  entitled  to,  which  he  can  obtain  upon  the  return  of  the  certifi- 
cate and  SI  to  the  office  of  the  Association." 

Not  wishing,  however,  to  encourage  too  sanguine  hopes,  we  would 
add  an  account  of  the  success  of  an  experiment  made  last  year  by 
an  incredulous  individual,  who  was  so  curious  as  to  find  out  how 
it  was  these  people  made  money  by  selling  gold  watches  for  a  dollar. 
He  spent  a  hundred  dollars  for  the  "  certificates"  above  referred  to, 
and  found  himself  the  lucky  possessor  of  a  lot  of  paper  tickets  pur- 
porting to  represent  property  to  the  value  of  $2,153,  and  this  prop- 
erty he  was  entitled  to  receive  on  the  further  payment  of  .^458. 
Not  wishing,  however,  to  impoverish  these  rashly-benevolent  Sama- 
ritans, and  reflecting,  perhaps,  that  he  had  already  spent  $100  for 
which  he  had  as  yet  received  nothing  but  "  certificates,"  he  selected 
a  hundred  of  those  that  promised  the  most  valuable  articles,  and 
sent  them  for  redemption— paying  another  $100  for  the  articles. 
He  received  a  lot  of  watches,  jewelry,  gold  pens,  &c,  of  which  the 
nominal  value  was  $599. 

Very  good  investment  of  $200,  was  it  not?  But  stop  a  minute. 
"We  said  nominal  value.  As  the  articles  were  all  gold  and  silver — 
at  any  rate,  professed  to  be  — it  was  easy  to  ascertain  their  actual 
value  ;  so  they  were  sent  to  the  United  States  Assay  Office,  melted 
up,  and  a  certificate  of  the  net  proceeds  returned.  And  how  much 
does  the  ingenuous  reader  suppose  this  $599  of  gold  and  silver 
proved  to  be  worth?  Just  nine  dollars  and  sixty-two  cents  ($9  62)! 
That  was  what  our  friend  got  for  the  Two  Hundred  Dollars  cash  he 
had  invested.  And  that  is  about  what  anybody  will  get  who  chooses 
to  invest  money  in  enterprises  of  this  kind. 

The  certificate-jewelry  business  is,  in  fact,  under  whatever  name 
carried  on,  nothing  but  a  gigantic  fraud,  extending  far  and  wide 
over  the  country,  and  causing  many  innocent  but  rather  green  peo- 
ple losses  they  can  ill  afford.   During  the  war,  the  soldiers  were 


gamblers  and  their  victims.  31 


cheated  enormously  by  it.   Millions  of  dollars  have  been  paid  for 

utterly  worthless  stuff. 

But  it  is  not  only  in  bogus  jewelry  that  prizes  are  warranted. 
Gold  pens  are  held  out  as  an  inducement.  What  village  poetaster 
or  scribler  for  the  weekly  journal — enjoying  a  reputation  among 
his  acquaintances  for  "  smart  writing" — imagining  himself  a  second 
Byron  or  another  Sylvanus  Cobb,  Jr.,  but  what  likes  to  sport  a  geld 
pen  with  "  silver  ca-e"  before  the  admiring  eyes  of  friends  or  the 
envious  glances  of  rivals,  as  the  instrument  with  which  the  flow 
of  melody  or  pathetic  romance  in  the  "  Trumpetour  Blower"  is 

produced.    By  such  the  circular  of  the   M  Gold  Pen  Co." 

sent  through  the  P.  O.  is  warmly  welcomed.  A  careful  perusal,  a 
comparison  of  the  different  styles  and  prices,  and  then,  of  course,  a 
remittance.  The  pen  arrives  in  a  handsome  velvei-lined  box.  A 
glance  and  the  possessor  is  entranced  ;  he  tries  it,  it  writes  smoothly, 
and  forthwith  it  is  cleaned,  placed  in  the  pocket  and  carelessly  shown 
by  "  accident"  to  friends.  Another  trial — alas !  the  ink  sticks  ; 
the  pen  corrodes  ;  the  gold  comes  off ;  the  silver  holder  turns  black 
polishing  faits  to  produce  a  shine,  and  evegtually  it  is  apparent  that 
a  swindle  has  been  perpretratcd  and  that  the  "  cheap  gold  pen"  is 
after  all  but  copper  or  brass  |  thousands  of  these  pens  are  sent  in  a 
.week  by  express  to  all  parts  of  the  country  and  as  many  dupes 
made  to  pay  fifty  times  their  value  to  the  adroit  swindlers  who 
manufacture  them. 

The  post-master  at  Wakeman,  Huron  county,  Ohio,  having  heard 
of  this  Pen  Co.,  sent  for  a  circular  which  was  at  ence  for- 
warded. Selecting  a  certain  pen  he  remitted  the  money  for  it  j  in 
reply  he  received  an  old  copper  pen  not  worth  three  cents  ;  he  im- 
mediately remonstated  in  a  second  letter,  and  a  third,  of  which  no 
notice  was  taken  and  the  unfortunate  U.S.  official  was  obliged  to 
consider  himself  swindled.   This  is  but  an  instance  of  many. 


CHAPTER  VII. 

GAMBLERS  AND  THEIR  VICTIMS. 

"  Vice  is  a  monster  of  such  hideous  mein, 

Tbat  to  be  hated  nerds  but  to  be  seen  ; 
But  s-*en  too  oit,  familiar  to  the  face. 

We  first  endure,  thtn  pity,  then  embrace.1* 

And  so  it  is  with  gambling — the  "  sum  of  all  vices."  Like  a  de- 
stroying demon  guised  in  angel  shape,  or  like  the  fabled  syren,  it 
allures  with  fair  promises  and  soul-enraptured  desires,  only  to  inev- 
itable destruction,  and  the  total  annihilation  of  all  life's  brightest 
hopes  or  fairest  dreams. 

It  would  be  easy  to  moralize  ad  infinitum  upon  this  subject ;  in- 
deed it  is  hard  to  avoid  doing  so,  for  no  admonition  is  too  strong ; 
no  warning  too  often  repeated,  in  pointing  out  the  danger  from  this 


32 


ROGUERIES  OF  NEW  YORK. 


great  quicksand  of  human  life  upon  which  are  daily  wrecked  hun- 
dreds— aye,  thousands  of  life's  voyagers. 

The  capital  invested  in  gambling  hells  in  New  York  alone,  it  is 
estimated  exceeds  one  million  of  dollars,  that  is,  the  sum  annually  ex- 
pended in  "  running"  these  establishments.  Were  this  amount  laid 
aside,  year  after  year,  by  our  corporate  authorities  in  establishing 
and  maintaining  some  noble  charity,  it  would  be  hard  to  realize  the 
amount  of  good  it  would  do ;  reflect,  then,  when  this  same  sum  is 
spent  in  ruining  and  destroying  reputation,  honor,  self-esteem — 
piiysical  and  mental  suffering  -  the  incalculable  injury  it  inflicts! 

Gambling  is  carried  on  in  almost  every  street,  we  might  say  in 
every  block  in  every  street,  and  we  would  hardly  overstate  the 
truth,  as  only  the  dissipated  rich  or  those  one  day  expecting  to  be 
rich,  are  sought  as  desirable  prey.  But  why  is  it  so  difficult  to  be 
entrapped  into  the  meshes  of  these  fashionable  and  select  gambling 
palaces  ?   Simply  for  the  benefit  and  ease  of  their  patrons. 

"  Only  this,  and  nothing  more,"  to  keep  out  the  prying  eyes  of  in- 
quisitive fathers,  brothers,  sons  or  employers.  The  young  clerk 
with  his  $800  a  year- but  men  spend  more  than  that  in  a  single 
week  at  "faro,"  or  "fighting  the  tiger"- would  not  like  to  be  re- 
cognized in  such  a  place  by  the  confiding  merchant,  whose  money  he 
embezzles  to  "  keep  up  his  style  ;"  or  perhaps  the  same  merchant 
himself,  who  so  rigidly  enforces  upon  the  minds  of  his  small  army 
of  clerks  the  principles  of  honesty,  rectitude  and  temperance,  would 
feel  rather  awkward  in  encountering  one  or  more  of  these  young 
men  by  accident  at  a  "  roulette"  board,  gambling,  swearing  and 
drinking ! 

Between  Chambers  street  and  Grace  Church  in  Broadway,  we 
could  point  out  at  least  a  hundred  of  these  "hells,"  and  thus  per- 
haps warn  the  heedless,  the  careless  or  the  reckless  from  the  toils 
of  the  spoiler  ;  but,  even  if  we  did  so,  the  proprietors  would  re- 
gard our  work  with  favor,  and  perhaps  buy  up  the  whole  edition  as 
a  first-class  advertisement.  So,  in  this  instance  at  least,  we  must  de- 
cline to  satisfy  a  pardonable  curiosity,  which,  under  other  circum- 
stances, we  would  be  happy  to  satisfy. 

One  man— formerly  a  well-known  pugilist—"  backs"  no  less  than 
fifteen  "  houses"  in  New  York  alone,  with  others  at  two  or  three 
fashionable  watering  places,  each  and  every  one  of  which  requires 
a  capital  of  not  far  from  $100,000  per  annum  to  support  it.  And 
yet  he  grows  rich  and  can  count  his  fortune  at  a  million  of  dollars. 
He  has  reduced  his  business  to  a  complete  machine.  Gambling 
places  are  open  and  secret :  that  is  there  are  those  in  which  games 
of  chance  are  played  in  the  broad  Yignt  of  public  scrutiny,  with  lit- 
tle or  no  attempt  at  concealment,  and  the  aristocratic  salon,  to  which 
admittance  can  be  gained  only  by  introduction,  or  presentation  by 
those  having  special  entree,  backed  up  with  social  recommendations.  , 
To  the  mass  of  young  men  there  is  but  little  danger  to  be  appre-  r 
heuded  from  the  latter.  A  regiment  of  spotters— spies  if  you  will — 
are  in  the  employ  of  his  agents,  whose  business  it  is  to  hang  around 
the  hotels  and  watch  the  arrivals.  With  the  manners  and  accom- 
plishments of  gentlemen,  these  stool-pigeons  ingratiate  themselves 


GAMBLERS  AND  THEIR  VICTIMS. 


into  the  confidence  of  those  having  money,  and  by  false  promises 
and  professions  ingratiate  themselves  into  their  confidence,  and  stick 
to  their  "  friends"  until  the  last  dollar  is  plucked,  and  the  last  cent 
in  the  possession  of  their  crafty  employer,  whom  they  serve  with  a 
fidelity  unequalled,  for  it  is  to  "him  they  owe  their  fine  clothes,  their 
pockets  full  of  cash,  and  lives  of  ease  and  luxury.  But  it  is  not 
only  rich  strangers  they  keep  their  "  eye  teeth'*  sharpened  for:  the 
fast  city  youth,  whose  silly  old  father  trusts  him  with  thousands  at 
a  time."  is"  legitimate  prey,  and  under  their  tutelage,  throws  away, 
night  after  night,  the  earnings  of  years  and  the  requited  toil  of  "a 
lifetime  !  The  paymaster  in  the  army  is  a  gudgeon  worth  catching, 
and  during  the  late  war  many  of  their  proiession  gambled  away  the 
money  entrusted  to  their  care,  with  which  to  pay  off  the  battle-worn 
soldiers  of  their  country.  Major  P.,  a  resident  of  Philadelphia, 
through  the  influence  of  a  Senator,  received  an  appointment  in  1SG4 
as  paymaster  in  the  —  th  regiment  of  P   Volunteers,  in  Sher- 

man's army.  A  man  of  irreproachable  character  personally,  and  of 
undoubted  loyalty,  he  was  sent  several  times  by  the  Treasury  and 
War  Departments  on  missions,  involving  the  custody  and  expendi- 
ture of  large  sums.  On  one  of  these  he  chanced  to  visit  New  York, 
and  put  up  at  the  St.  Nicholas.  Being  a  life-long  resident  of  Phila- 
delphia, and  having  seen  many  of  the  dark  shades  of  life  as  deve- 
loped in  the  Quaker  City,  he  had  but  few.  if  any,  fears  of  becoming 
the  victim  of  designing  rascals.  A  number  of  officers  were  at  the 
same  hotel,  and  with  several  of  these  the  major  became  quite  inti- 
mate ;  one  in  particular  strongly  commended  himself  to  his  tastes, 

a  Captain  Scott,  of  the  artillery.    With  the  latter  R  visited  the 

theatres  on  his  first  night  in  town,  the  opera  on  the  next,  and  so  on. 
His  last  night  in  New  York  at  length  arrived,  and  sitting  conversing 
with  his  friiend,  accepted  an  invitation  to  take  a  stroll.  A  request 
to  step  into  a  handsome  mansion  to  see  an  acquaintance,  was  unhe- 
sitatingly complied  with,  and  in  a  few  moments  the  pair  were  seated 
in  a  large  apartment,  furnished  in  a  most  magnificent  style— Brus- 
sels carpets  on  the  floor,  paintings  and  mirrors  on  the  walls,  chan- 
deliers of  beautiful  design  and  ornament,  sofas  of  solid  mahogany, 
etc.  An  introduction  to  those  present,  with  whom  Captain  Scott  ap- 
peared well  acquainted  ;  a  splendid  supper,  with  the  choicest  viands 
and  wines,  aud  then  an  adjournment  to  a  backroom,  where  "  friend- 
ly games  of  chance*'  were  in  progress.  To  a  request  to  play  just 
for  amusement,  he  gladly  acceded  ;  the  notes  are  put  up,  only  ten 
dollars  aside,  and  he  wins.  Another  game,  larger  stakes,  and  he 
again  wins  ;  a  third,  with  still  larger  ventures  he  loses.  The  play 
becomes  exciting,  the  luck  variable  ;  at  last  fortune  takes  a  strong 
turn  against  him  ;  he  keeps  on  losing,  losing,  losing.  Brandy  is 
called  lor  and  drank  copiously  ;  he  is  reckless,  his  ill-luck  makes 
him  desperate :  his  last  dollar  is  gone  ;  a  thought  — he  pulls  out  the 
money  confided  to  his  care  by  the  government,  hoping  to  recover  what 
he  has  already  squandered.  Thousands  of  dollars  are  placed  upou 
the  table,  covered,  played  for,  and— lost.  Ihe  last  stamp  is  swept 
up  by  the  remorseless  ;'  dealer  ;'7  a  sudden  consciousness  that  he 
is  ruined,  that  he  has  forfeited  reputation,  honor,  confidence— all 


34 


ROGUERIES  OF  NEW  YORK. 


that  a  man  holds  dear— flashes  upon  him.  More  brandy,  a  revolver 
is  drawn,  a  sharp  report,  and  another  suicide  is  standing  before  the 
Judge's  throne. 

It  is  hard  to  understand,  let  alone  describe,  the  rationale  of  gam- 
bling, the  impulse,  the  infatuation  that  possesses  the  victim  of  the  vice. 

Pursuing  it  like  an  touts  fatuw,  only  to  their  own  destruction,  in 
spite  of  the  counsels  and  admonitions  of  those  that  see  the  end  of 
their  career,  these  blind,  wilfully  blind  slaves  of  their  own  cupidity 
and  lust  after  dross,  rush  madly  into  the  abyss  yawning  in  their 
path.  This  passion,  for  such  it  is,  has  its  beginning  in  ninety-nine 
cases  out  of  a  hundred  in  the  social  circle.  Playing  cards  or  domi- 
noes for  "  drinks,"  "  cigars,"  or  "  oyster  stews,"  is  gamhimg,  though 
a  majority  of  those  who  daily  and  nightly  indulge  in  this  practice 
will  possibly  deny  this  assertion.  "  Betting"  is  another  form,  and 
one  that  is  still  more  dangerous  J  a  taste  for  acquiring  money  easily 
and  without  labor  is  thus  developed,  and  when  once  developed 
there  is  no  resisting  the  future  influence  which  it  exerts.  Our  coun- 
try friends  are  apt  to  indulge  in  this  "  betting"  process  to  a  great 
extent,  and  it  is  to  this  desire  that  so  many  of  them  owe  their  loss 
of  character  as  well  as  loss  of  money  at  the  gaming  table. 

It  is  seldom,  however,  that  Verdant  is  worth  plucking  by  the 
"  aristocratic"  gamblers,  they  do  not  look  after  such  "  small  fry." 
All  gambling  houses  are  not  exclusive.  As  I  before  hinted,  they 
abound  everywhere,  and  those  of  the  "  lower  class"  present  the 
greatest  danger  to  the  inexperienced.  Such  places  are  to  be  found 
in  the  neighborhood  of  Chatham  street  or  iu  the  vicinity  of  the 
Bowery,  and,  like  concert  saloons  or  lager  bier  "  gartens."  are  as 
abundant  as  blackberries  in  August.  Here  the  rattle  of  dice  is 
heard  all  day  and  all  night  long,  and  it  is  here  that  so  many  are 
fleeced  out  of  small  sums  which  they  can  ill  afford  to  lose.  Un- 
scrupulous rascals  hang  around  the  doors  and  around  the  bars,  ever 
on  the  alert  to  catch  and  plunder,  and  they  are  not  always  particu- 
lar as  to  the  means  they  employ  in  so  doing.  Drugging  or  a 
knock  down  blow,  and  then  robbing,  is  a  part  of  their  trade— often 
resorted  to  when  their  "  customers"  fail  to  "  bleed"  at  the  card  ta- 
bles. It  is  in  such  dens  that  crimes  and  outrages  are  committed,  and 
into  which  strangers  are  enticed  and  gouged.  Keep  away  from 
these  pitfalls  ;  on  no  condition  suffer  yourself  to  be  induced'  to  enter 
them,  and  to  the  polite  attentions  and  requests  of  friends  to  come  in 
and  "  take  a  drink"  or  "  a  hand  at  cards,"  turn  a  deaf  ear  or  your 
fate  is  sealed. 

In  concluding  this  subject,  heed  a  few  words  of  timely  counsel. 

Gamble  nop  at  all — do  not  acquire  a  bad  taste  for  games  of 
chance  ;  for  if  you  do  you  are  surely  "  booked  and  ticketted"  for 
destruction.  Play  a  friendly  game  of  whist  or  euchre  with  those 
you  know  or  those  you  can  trust ;  but  as  you  value  life,  happiness, 
and  have  hopes  of  prosperity,  touch  not  a  card  where  the  stake  is 
for  money.  Do  not  rely  upon  your  moral  courage  to  stop  at  a  cer- 
tain point  in  your  career  ;  remember  you  cannot  control  yourself, 
and  if  you  once  give  yourself  up  to  the  devilish  passion  you  are 
lost.   Again,  gamble  not  at  all  ! 


GARROTJXG  AND  HIGHWAY  ROBBERY.  35 


CHAPTER  VIII. 

OARUOTIXG  AND  HIGHWAY  ROBBERY. 

Certain  streets  and  localities  in  New  York  bear  very  hard  repu- 
tations as  haunts  of  crime,  and  as  such  are  generally  avoided  by 
those  having  knowledge  of  this  fact.  Thus,  for  instance,  who  would 
venture  into  the  classic  regions  of  the  "  Five  Points,"  after  a  certain 
hour  of  the  night,  without  an  inward  apprehension  of  personal  vio- 
lence or  maltreatment ;  or  what  resident  of  the  city  would  like  to 
trust  himself  in  the  purlieus  of  Cherry  or  Water  streets  after  dark 
if  he  could  help  himself?  So  much  for  personal  knowledge,  and 
with  this  guide  it  is  very  easy  to  avoid  danger.  "  Forewarned  is 
forearmed."  But  in  the  case  of  the  stranger,  who  knows  not  one 
street  from  another,  how  different !  To  him,  with  the  exception 
perhaps  of  one  or  two,  all  streets  are  alike,  and  with  no  friendly 
monitor  to  warn  him.  is  it  any  wonder  he  is  often  exposed,  not  only 
to  insult  and  maltreatment,  but  also  to  robbery  and  perhaps  mur- 
der? Take  up  a  newspaper  any  day  in  the  week  and  read  the  lists 
of  "affrays,  highway  robberies,  assaults,"  &c.,  filling  its  columns. 
Here,  for  example  : 

Attfmptpd  Robbvry.— William  Jones,  employed  on  the  steamship 
City  of  Dublin,  while  passing  down  Laurens  street,  late  last  night, 
was  knocked  down  and  rendered  insensible  by  a  blow  from  a  slung 
shot  in  the  hands  of  one  of  a  party  of  men  who  rushed  upon  him 
from  a  neighboring  alley.  Before  the  thieves  could  possess  them- 
selves of  his  watch  and  money,  the  scoundrels,  frightened  at  the  ap- 
proach of  officer  Conley,  of  the  Eighth  Precinct,  ran  away.  The 
wounded  man  was  restored  to  consciousness,  and  then  taken  on 
board  his  vessel. 

Happily  for  the  unfortunate  man,  a  policeman  was  at  hand: 
otherwise  the  poor  fellow  would  have  fared  worse  at  the  hands  of 
the  rogues  ;  as  it  was  he  got  off"  quite  easy. 

Frank  Hannan,  a  well-known  butcher  and  drover,  arrived  from 
Cincinnati  with  a  consignment  of  hogs,  via  the  Erie  Rail\^y.  '"Stock" 
being  in  demand  at  Allertons  drove  yard,  he  soon  had  the  good 
luck  of  dispensing  of  his  "  drove,"  receiving  therefor  one  or  two 
"  cool  thousands."  Being  obliged  to  return  to  the  West  at  an  early 
hour  next  day.  Frank  resolved  to  pay  a  visit  to  the  theatre.  Seven 
o'clock  accordingly  found  him  in  a  parquette  seat  anxiou-ly  await- 
ing the  rising  of  the  curtain.  Engaged  with  the  tragic  utterances 
of  Stanley,  delighted  at  the  witty  sallies  of  Fox,  and  absorbed  in 
the  mysteries  of  the  three  five-act  dramas  on  the  programme,  the 
evening  passed  rapidly  away.  Leaving  the  theatre,  our  friend,  feel- 
ing decidedly  elevated  from  the  effects  of  certain  drinks  imbibed 
u  between  acts,"  unfortunately  for  himself,  lost  his  way,  and  in- 
stead of  continuing  up  the  Bowery  to  Canal  street,  to  Earl's  Hotel, 
where  he  put  up,  "brought  to"  in  Centre  street,  not  far  from  the 


36 


ROGUERIES  OF  NEW  YORK. 


Tombs.  A  little  "  incoherent,"  he  did  not  perceive  he  had  got  out 
of  his  reckoning  for  some  time,  but  on  discovering  the  fact,  looked 
about  for  a  policeman  for  directions.  While  endeavoring  to  disco- 
ver one  of  these  "  guardians  of  life  and  property,"  he  was  suddenly 
felled  to  the  ground  by  a  blow  from  behind,  and  the  next  moment 
became  wholly  unconscious.  At  length  after  a  time  his  reason  be- 
gan slowly  to  return ;  and  by  degrees  he  awoke  from  the,  what 
seemed  to  him,  horrid  dream,  perfectly  awaie  of  a  stunning  pain  in 
his  head,  and  a  whirling  sensation  through  his  brain.  Staggering  to 
his  feet,  he  for  a  moment  leaned  against  a  neighboring  post,  and  en- 
deavored to  collect  his  thoughts.  At  this  moment  a  Metropolitan 
approached,  and  thinking  him  intoxicated,  conducted  him  to  the 
station-house.  By  this  time  his  mind  had  become  clear,  and  he  re- 
lated what  had  befallen  him.  With  the  advice  of  the  sergeant  on 
duty  he  searched  his  pockets,  and  found  that  he  had  been  robbed  of 
every  cent  of  money  he  had  that  day  received,  and  which  was  placed 
loose  in  his  pantaloon  pockets  ;  and  not  only  of  his  money,  but  even 
of  his  coat,  hat  and  vest,  and  necktie,  with  a  valuable  gold  pin. 
Somebody  had  noiselessly  approached  him,  and  quietly  knocked 
him  down,  and  while  insensible  from  the  blow  relieved  him  of  his 
property.  Frank  was  kindly  cared  for  at  the  station-house  until 
morning.  Diligent  search  was  made  by  the  police  for  the  pepetra- 
trator  or  perpetrators  of  the  outrage,  but  with  the  general  result — 
no  success. 

But  it  is  not  only  in  "  lanes  and  by-ways"  that  highwaymen  are 
to  be  encountered  ;  for  while  preferring  the  dark  and  unfrequented 
streets,  they  are  still  not  averse  to  "  a  job"  even  in  gas-lit  Broad- 
way and  the  crowded  avenues,  and  this,  too,  despite  the  vigilance 
and  watchfulness  of  our  "  wide  awake"  police ! 

When  an  "  emergency  arises,"  and  one  of  these  villains  finds  him- 
self no  match  for  his  intended  victim,  or  when  his  attempt  to  "quiet," 
by  a  blow,  is  frustrated,  the  ruffian  makes  no  hesitation  in  using 
"  cold  steel"  to  prevent  an  alarm  or  to  make  sure  of  his  work.  A 
pistol  is  seldom  employed  for  this  purpose,  as  the  report  is  apt  to 
attract  attention,  but  the  knife  is  an  easy  and  certain  weapon.  Still 
your  highwayman  will  rarely  go  so  far  as  to  attempt  murder,  for  a 
wholesome^ear  of  the  scaffold  or  State  prison,  should  he  be  caught, 
is  before  hi?  eyes.  Preferable  to  the  steel,  and  far  superior  to  the 
pistol  or  revolver,  is  the  "  slung -shot,"  a  well-directed  stroke  from 
which  effectually  prevents,  for  the  time  being,  any  "factious  oppo- 
sition." The  "  sand  bag,"  a  narrow  pouch,  filled  with  sand,  is  often 
employed  in  the  same  way  and  for  the  same  purpose. 

GARROTTXG, 

Of  which  our  readers  have  often  heard,  has  long  since  become  un- 
fashionable, though  it  is  still  occasionally  practised.  Its  very  un- 
frequency,  however,  makes  it  all  the  more  dangerous.  The  phrase 
is  of  Spanish  origin,  and  derives  its  name  from  a  machine  by  which, 
in  the  West  Indies  and  Central  America,  criminals  and  political  of- 
fenders are  choked  to  death.  As  its  name  signifies,  it  is  literally 
choking,  and  any  one  who  has  had  the  misfortune  to  undergo  the 


TIIE  TRAGIC  END. 


See  Paje  34. 


38 


ROGUERIES  OF  NEW  YORK. 


operation  at  the  hands  of  ^ew  York  ruffians,  can  testify  to  the  lite- 
ral interpretation  of  the  word. 

Garroters  work  upon  scientific  principles,  with  a  perfect  know- 
ledge of  the  physical  anatomy  of  the  body.  A  child  can  tell  you 
the  effect  of  stopping  the  breath  even  for  a  short  time.  Two  of  the 
gentry  approach  their  intended  prey  ;  one  of  them  seizes  him,  at 
the  same  time  passing  his  arm  around  the  neck  of  the  "  customer," 
jamming  the  lower  against  the  upper  jaw,  thus  preventing  an  out- 
cry, while  his  companion  appropriates  the  personal  property  of  the 
helpless  stranger.  The  work  is  generally  finished  by  a  blow  upon 
the  cranium,  causing  insensibility,  affording  an  opportunity  for  the 
robbers  to  make  good  their  escape.  Garroters  are  seldom  merciful, 
their  operation  is  the  very  refinement  of  cruelty. 

One  of  the  most  aggravated  cases  of  this  species  of  robbery  is 
that  of  an  ex-captain  of  one  of  the  New  York  and  Liverpool  pack- 
ets, who,  passing  through  South  street,  on  his  way  to  his  vessel,  late 
at  night,  was  seized  in  the  manner  described  above.  Possessing 
great  muscular  strength,  Capt.  B  — made  a  stout  resistance,  knock- 
ing down  one  of  his  assailants,  and  would  have  doubtless  made  bis 
escape  had  not  one  of  the  ruffians —there  were  four  of  them— thrown 
a  nouse  around  his  neck  and  pulled  it  tight,  depriving  him  of  all 
consciousness,  and  nearly  suffocating  him. 

Captain  Harrison,  of  the  14th  U.  S.  Regulars,  quartered  on  Gover- 
nor's Island,  at  the  earnest  desire  of  a  warm  personal  friend,  ac- 
cepted an  invitation  to  an  evening  party.  The  mansion  of  his  host 
was  located  in  Fourteenth  street,  and  "it  was  an  early  hour  in  the 
morning  when  he  left  for  the  "  Island."  He  had  ordered  a 
boat  to  await  him  at  the  Battery  at  three  o'clock,  and  it  was  now 
two  ;  so  it  would  require  a  brisk  walk  to  be  "in  time,"  the  stages 
having  long  since  ceased  running.  Striding  a  bee-line  down  Broad- 
way, the  gallant  captain  used  his  legs  to  great  advantage,  and  was 
already  within  sight  of  Trinity,  when  three  men  rapidly  rushed  by 
him.  Turning  suddenly,  one  of  them  asked  him  "  the  hour,"  but 
before  he  could  reply,  another  threw  his  arms  around  his  body, 
tripped  up  his  feet  and  laid  him  sprawling  on  the  sidewalk.  A  third 
coolly  seated  himself  on  the  breast  of  the  prostrate  man,  clutching 
the  throat  of  the  latter  with  his  fingers,  while  the  others  rummaged 
his  pockets,  possessing  themselves  of  whatever  valuables  they  could 
find.  Advising  the  captain  to  keep  perfectly  still  the  rascals  polite- 
ly bade  him  "  good  morning."  and  before  he  could  recover  irom  his 
surprise  or  raise  an  alarm,  vanished  around  the  corner. 

These  ruffians  do  not  always  escape  unscathed,  but  now  and  then 
receive  their  deserts.  The  practice  of  carrying  arms  is  a  dangerous 
one,  and  one  that  cannot  be  too  severely  reprehended.  The  temp- 
tation to  use  a  pistol  or  dirk  is  often  very  strong,  and  not  easily 
resisted,  involving  serious  consequences.  Still  it  cannot  be  denied 
tha<  the  possession  of  a  weapon  has,  in  hundreds  of  cases— even  in 
great  and  crowded  cities— preserved  life  which  must  otherwise  have 
been  sacrificed  io  lawlessness  or  cupidity.  At  one  time  the  "  gar- 
rote"  excitement  prevailed  to  an  alarming  extent  in  New  York. 
Scarcely  a  night  passed  but  one  or  two  fijgrant—  and  generally 


CARR0T1NG  AND  HIGHWAY  ROBBERY. 


39 


more — assaults  were  made,  until  it  was  absolutely  considered  unsafe 
to  be  abroad  after  a  certain  hour.  Men  whose  business  called  them 
abroad  at  night,  generally  went  armed  as  a  matter  of  self-protec- 
tion. It  was  during  this  period  of  alarm  that  a  friend  of  the  writer's, 
and  a  well-known  New  York  editor,  was  on  his  way  up  town  from 
his  office,  when  he  was  attacked  in  Fourth  street,  near  the  Parade 
Ground,  by  three  scoundrels,  one  of  whom  attempted  the  "  garrote" 
game.  Seizing  the  u  man  of  the  quill "  by  the  throat,  the  latter  was 
for  a  moment  powerless  ;  bat  quickly  recovering  himself,  pushed 
his  hand  rapidly  into  his  breast  pocket,  and  before  the  would-be 
robbeis  became  aware  of  his  intention,  drew  a  revolver  and  dis- 
charged the  contents  of  one  barrel,  at  almost  point-blank  range,  at 
his  immediate  assailant.  The  ball  entered  the  shoulder  of  the  rascal, 
shattering  the  blade,  and  causing  an  ugly  though,  not  dangerous 
wound.  Alarmed  at  the  report  of  the  revolver  and  the  noise  of  an 
approaching  officer,  the  villains  fled,  leaving  our  editor  master  of 
the  situation.  The  wounded  man  was  tracked  by  the  drops  of  blood 
from  his  injured  shoulder,  and  subsequently  arrested,  convicted, 
and  sent  to  the  Sing-Sing  prison,  where  he  did  the  State  service  for 
several  years. 

The  low  grog-shops  and  "  taverns"  along  the  North  and  East 
River3,  and  in  other  disreputable  quarters  of  the  city,  should  be 
avoided  by  all  who  have  the  least  respect  for  themselves  or  regard 
for  the  safety  of  their  personal  property.  In  these  dens  the  unsus- 
pecting, by  means  of  drugged  liquors  or  by  other  equally  potent 
influences,  are  first  rendered  insensible,  then  robbed,  and  finally 
turned  out  pitiless  and  penniless  to  obtain  what  satisfaction  or  in- 
demnity they  can. 

Several  illustrations  might  be  given  of  the  frequency  of  these 
cases,  but  as  they  are,  after  all,  but  repetitions  of  each  other,  and 
may  be  read  day  alter  day  in  the  public  prints,  we  will  merely 
remark  that,  by  a  little  timely  prudence,  wisely  exercised,  together 
with  a  moderate  degree  of  sobriety,  but  slight  apprehension  of  dan- 
ger from  highwaymen,  garroters,  or  footpads  need  be  entertained. 

STORY  OP   A  REIIRKD  BURGLAR. 

Several  years  since  a  portly  and  amiable  gentleman,  of  winning 
manners  and  irreproachable  habits,  apparently  well  supplied  with 
that  wealth  so  necessary  in  the  eyes  of  many  to  social  distinction, 
came  to  the  village  of  "\Iount  Vernon,  purchased  a  handsome  prop- 
erty, and  fitted  it  up  in  a  manner  showing  refined  taste  and  judicious 
culture.  His  family,  among  which  were  two  pleasant  and  accom- 
plished young  ladies,  became  as  popular  as  himself.  At  all  parties 
they  were  the  sought  for  guests.  The  gentleman  himself  was,  if  not 
the  oracle,  at  least  the  premier  magnate  of  the  neighborhood.  Our 
portly  magnifico  was  a  captain  by  colloquial  brevet —whether  of  the 
army  or  navy  was  never  determined  and  was  a  manufacturer  of 
dry-goods,  he  said,  talking  of  the  "mills"  and  "machinery"  in  a  glib 
and  knowing  manner. 

Recently,  however,  some  impertinent  outsider  began  to  whisper. 
The  whisper  grew  to  a  sound  audible  to  careless  ears.   The  audible 


40 


ROGUERIES  OF  NEW  YORK. 


sound  deepened  to  a  loud  tone.    The  aristocratic  maker  of  calico, 

the  imposing  captain,  the  urbane  magnate  of  the  village,  was  no 
more  nor  less  than  a  successful  burglar,  now  retired  from  his  pro- 
fession, who  had  served  his  term  of  three  years  in  the  Pennsylvania 
Penitentiary.  Napoleon  of  the  jemmy  and  wrench,  he  had  never 
operated  himself,  but  like  a  high  official,  had  done  his  work  by  de- 
puty. By  his  lieutenants,  he  had  led  his  army  in  a  raid  against  the 
moveables  of  the  people.  Shrewd  enough  never  to  operate  at 
home,  he  spent  his  gains  in  the  manner  of  a  gentleman ;  and  but  for 
an  accidental  interloper,  might  have  lived  and  died  in  the  odor 
of  sanctity,  and  have  been  buried  amid  the  lamentations  of  the 
villagers,  who  would  have  emulated  his  ostensible  virtues.  It  is 
po-sible,  indeed,  that  he  had  entirely  retired  from  the  active  prose- 
cution of  that  branch  of  the  fine  arts  that  had  brought  him  fortune  ; 
it  is  even  possible  that  he  might  have  repented  of  his  former  life, 
though  he  held  the  proceeds  of  his  skill  and  genius,  and  enjoyed 
their  use.  Be  that  as  it  may,  his  crime  found  him  out,  aud  its  conse- 
quence followed  him.  But  his  associates,  who  were  taken  with  his 
manners,  and  charmed  with  his  virtues,  and  who  dovetailed  legs 
with  him  under  the  same  mahogany,  who  shall  paint  their  consterna- 
tion when  the  truth  came  out ! 


CHAPTER  IX. 

PICKTOCKCT3  AND  PuCKETPICKIXO. 

"  Pockettickixg"  in  the  metropolis,  has  been  reduced  to  an  art— 
brought  to  a  state  of  perfection  and  system  that  is  difficult  to  com- 
prehend. Indeed  it  may  be  looked  upon  as  a  regular  profession- 
one  that  requires  the  greatest  skill,  dexterity  and  perception.  Were 
but  a  tithe  of  the  ingenuity  required  for  an  adept  in  this  important 
branch  of  "  living  by  one  s  wits"  exercised  in  some  honorable  busi- 
ness, it  is  unquestionable  but  that  it  would  redcund  to  the  posses- 
sors' social  position  and  profit. 

Pickpockets  may  be  divided  into  two  classes,  the  professionals 
and  amateurs.  It  is  with  the  former  that  we  have  more  particularly 
to  deal,  as  the  more  dangerous.  The  "  trade"  is  plied  by  both 
sexes ;  and  as  may  be  supposed,  females  are  far  more  expert  and 
successful  than  their  male  co-workers,  their  natural  discernment, 
enticing  manners,  and  readiness  to  take  advantage  of  circumstances, 
rendering  them  eminently  qualified  for  the  work. 

A  crowd  is  the  pickpocket's  opportunity;  a  political  meeting, 
procession,  or  review  is  a  perfect  "God  send"  to  the  fraternity, 
who  never  fail  to  attend,  confident  of  reaping  a  rich  harvest,  with 
but  little  fear  of  interruption  or  detection.  Public  conveyances- 
cars  and  stages — afford  a  wide  field  of  operations.  The  latter  are 
"  worked  "  for  the  most  part  by  females  dressed  in  the  most  fash- 


PICKPOCKETS  AND  POCKETPICKING. 


41 


ionable  style,  with  the  manners  and  "  airs"  of  a  leader  of  the  ton* 
Is  it  at  all  surprising  that  suspicion  seldom  attaches  to  their  pre- 
sence until  with  their  booty  they  hare  made  good  their  retreat? 

Riding  up  a  Filth  avenue  stage  one  pleasant  afternoon  not  long 
ago,  the  attention  of  the  writer  was  attracted  by  the  personal  ap- 
pearance of  quite  a  handsome  young  lady  sitting  nearly  opposite, 
if  he  entered  the  vehicle  at  the  corner  of  Caual  street,  dres&ed  in  the 
latest  Parisian  style,  her  many  charms  of  lace  and  figure  displayed 
to  great  advantage  by  the  taste  evident  in  the  selection  and  mike  ,.p 
of  her  wearing  apparel.  The  "  dear  creature"  was  quite  captivat- 
ing ;  so  indeed  thought  a  gentleman  near  the  door,  at  least  judging 
from  his  actions.  Hastening  to  make  room  for  the  fair  damsel  be- 
side himself,  he  gallantly  extended  his  hand  to  assist  her  in  mount- 
ing the  somewhat  steep  steps  of  the  stage— a  civility  she  rewarded 
by  a  smile  and  u  thank  you,  sir,"  that  must  have  made  his  heart 
jump.  Extending  her  crinoline  in  smooth  folds  on  each  side  (the 
seats  being  but  partially  occupied),  the  young  lady  lowered  her 
veil  and  relapsed  into  a  state  of  blissful  contentedness.  Many  were 
the  admiring  glances  bestowed  upon  her  by  her  neighbor,  who 
seemed  quite  smitten,  as  he  slowly  edged  up  to  her.  To  a  request 
if  he  should  hoist  the  window  at  her  back,  she,  with  the  most  charm- 
ing naivete,  assented,  and  leaned  forward  the  better  to  enable  him  to 
do  so.  No  sooner,  however,  had  he  again  taken  his  seat  when  she 
suddenly  pulled  the  strap,  stopped  the  stage,  got  out,  and  was  soon 
lost  to  view.  Happening  to  again  direct  my  attention  to  the  gentle- 
man, I  saw  his  watch-guard  banging  loose,  and  called  his  observa- 
tion to  the  circumstance.  Instantly  he  exclaimed,  "  My  watch  is 
gone  !"  His  next  impulse  was  to  place  his  hand  in  his  pocket,  and 
to  his  dismay  discovered  that  his  wallet  also  was  missing ;  the 
charming  young  lady  had  quietly  appropriated  both  !  The  victim 
frantically  jerked  the  strap — such  a  tlying  leap  and  the  last  seen 
of  him  he  was  talking  to  a  policeman' on  the  subject  of  his  loss.  It 
is  more  than  probable  he  recovered  neither  his  timepiece  nor  his 
money,  but  instead  received  practical  admonition  of  the  "deception 
of  appearances,"  and  the  danger  of  admiring  feminine  yraces,  pretty 
and  unknown  faces ! 

Places  of  amusement  are  favorite  resorts  of  the  "  gentry,"  where, 
in  the  crowds  that  pour  out  of  the  theatres  and  minstrel  halls,  their 
nimbleness  enables  them  to  relieve  unsuspecting  individuals  of 
superfluous  articles  of  jewelry,  wearing  apparel,  such  as  gloves, 
handkerchiefs,  &c.  Ladies  are  the  principal  sufferers  from  pick- 
pockets of  their  own  "  gender,"  and  should  therefore,  when  abroad, 
never  for  a  moment,  no  matter  where  they  may  be,  in  a  store,  stage, 
car,  or  crowded  thoroughfare,  become  careless  or  forgetful ;  for  if 
they  do  they  are  likely  to  repent.  Do  not  rely  upon  your  adroit- 
ness in  concealing  your  money  or  other  valuables  ;  prying  eyes  are 
coveting,  and  itching  fingers  longing,  to  seize  upon  thein.  Remem- 
ber the  mysteries  of  your  dress  are  no  mysteries  to  those  female 
"  profeseionals  ;"  they  know  as  well  as  you  do  where  your  purse  is 
concealed  ;  or  if  they  don't,  it  won't  take  them  long  to  find  out. 
Bnt  suppose  you  depend  upon  other  and  more  open  means  of  pro- 


42 


ROGUERIES  OF  NEW  YORK. 


tection  -you  carry  your  portrnonnaie  in  your  hand,  with  a  strong 

clutch  thereupon  surely  it  cannot  then  be*  cut.  "  Lay  not  this  flat- 
tering unction  to  your  soul ;''  a  detention  at  a  street  crossing,  a 
jostle.,  a  snatch  from  behind,  and  despite  your  precaution  your 
money  is  gone  !  You  turn  to  look  for  the  thief ;  you  see  numbers 
of  people  around  ;  can  you  tell  who  committed  toe  theft  ? 

Gentlemen  '  with  prominent  watch-guards  or  protruding  breast- 
pins are  fair  game,  and  are  daily  made  to  pay  the  penaly  of  a  vain 
desire  ot  display. 

Certain  kinds  of  crime  now  and  then  become  epidemic  for  a 
while  :  thus,  a  short  time  ago,  a  fashionable  method  of  pocketpick- 
ing  was  to  first  render  the  victim  insensible  by  means  of  chloroform, 
and  then  11  go  through*'  him  or  her  at  leisure. '  Take  the  case  of  Miss 
Simons,  who  on  leaving  an  Eighth  avenue  railroad  car  at  the  corner 
of  West  Broadway  and  Lispenard  street,  was  accosted  by  a  neatly 
dressed  female,  who  politely  inquired  the  way  to  the  Astor  House, 
at  the  same  time  dexterously  flirting  a  pocket-handkerchief,  the 
effect  of  which  latter  proceeding  was  to  cause  Miss  S.  to  fall  insen- 
sible to  the  sidewalk,  while  the  adroit  thief  made  off  with  her  valu- 
ables. The  pickpocket,  in  her  haste,  dropped  her  handkerchief, 
which,  when  picked  up  by  a  policeman,  was  found  to  be  strongly 
impregnated  with  chloroform.  This  chloroform  game,  however,  is 
now  out  of  date,  and  seldom  practised. 

The  above  is  but  a  sample  of  the  many  methods  adopted  by  the 
u  members  of  the  profession"  to  "  come  it  over  '  strangers.  A  great 
deal  is  left,  however,  to  circumstances  and  surroundings,  of  which 
the  rogue  is  always  on  hand  to  take  advantage.  It  is  therefore  im- 
possible to  lay  down  settled  rules  and  regulations,  whereby  visitors 
to,  or  even  citizens  familiar  with,  New  York,  may  avoid  experiencing 
loss  and  inconvenience  at  the  hands  of  the  class  of  rascaLs  now  un- 
der consideration.  A  few  words  of  advice,  however,  may  not  be 
inappropriate. 

In  the  first  place,  never  make  a  display  of  money.  Eyes  are 
around  and  about  you,  watching  every"  motion.  Jf  you  have 
purchasing  to  do,  take  only  the  amount  necessary,  and  leave  what- 
ever you  have  over  at  your  hotel  or  wherever  you  maybe  stopping. 

Avoid  crowds  ;  keep  away  from  all  gatherings  as  much  as  possi- 
ble :  do  not  let  a  desire  to  see  what  is  going  on  induce  you  to  push 
and  elbow  your  way  into  the  midst  of  a  motley  assemblage,  parti- 
cularly at  a  street  crossing. 

Give  the  "'cut  direct"  to  all  agreeable  strangers  or  warmly  in- 
terested "friends,"'  male  or  female.  The  pertinence  of  this  sentence 
was  forcibly  felt  by  Henr*  Thompson,  a  native  and  life-long  resi- 
dent of  the  quiet,  slow  and  old-fashioned  village  of  Peekskill,  West- 
chester county,  York  State.  Harry  had  alreadv  attained  the  ago 
oi  2%  in  comparative  ignorance  of  the  attractions  and  dangers, 
pleasures  and  pains  of  ;he  great  world  be\  ond  his  village.  Perhaps 
his  ambition,  if  such  it  can  be  called,  would  never  have  been  roused 
into  an  inexpressible  j  earning  to  visit  the  great  Eabel  on  Manhattan 
Island,  had  it  not  keen  tor  the  glowing  account  given  by  his  fellow* 
workman  (Harry  was  a  moulder),  Zeke  Samson,  on  his  return  from  a 


PICKPOCKETS  AND  POCKETPICKING. 


•13 


protracied  visit  to  the  city.  Zeke  had  "seen  the  elephant"  in 
company  with  his  city  cousin,  and  had  thus  escaped  the  pitfalls  and 
dangers  which  usually  await  the  innocent  rustic  on  first  "  coming 
to  town."  Now.  among  the  young  men  of  the  village,  the  hero  of 
this  story  had  attained  an  enviable  reputation  for  cufenea?,  as  the 
Yankees  have  it,  and  anv  one  who  could*" come  it  over"  him  in  any 
shape  or  form  might  consider  him-elf  "some  pumkins''  indeed.  In 
addition,  llarrv  was  "some  on  his  muscle,"  and  the  recognized 
champion  of  the  place.  With  these  qualifications,  is  it  strange  that 
he  had  an  excellent  o,  anion  of  himself  and  of  his  own  "  qualities," 
and  expected  others  to  have  the  same? 

Listening,  time  and  again,  to  Zeke's  many  and  varied  adventures 
(slightly  exaggerated),  a  strong  de-ire  seized  Harry  to  take  a  jaunt  to 
the  city.  Talking  to  the  "  old  man"  on  the  subject  one  night,  his  pro- 
ject received  his  warm  approbation,  as  his  father  thought  it  was  about 
time  his  son  had  seen  something  of  life  ;  so,  without  much  ado,  it  was 
settled  that  he  should  go  and  remain  for  a  wee  >.  Monday  morning 
saw  our  friend  on  Broadway,  gazing  and  wondering  with  open 
mouth  at  the  multitudinous  attractions  of  that  famous  thoroughfare. 
Now,  there  aie  some  very  pretty  girls  in  Peekskill,  and  one  in  par- 
ticular had  magnetized  Harry's  affections  ;  but  "  out  of  sight  out  of 
mind,"  and  away  from  his  Dulcinea,  he  was  at  liberty  to  admire  the 
many  charms  of  the  fair  Broadway  promeuaders.  Constitutionally 
bashful  in  the  presence  of  the  gentler  sex,  it  is  not  surprising  that 
every  now  and  then  encountering  the  glance  of  some  "pretty  dam- 
sel," he  should  find  himself  actually  blushing ;  and  after  fairly 
-trembling,  "  paancy  his  pheeliuks"  then,  on  being  accosted  by  a 
demure  looking  maiden,  clad  in  the 

"  Habiliments  of  woe — 

with  the  prettiest  of  faces  and  the  most  perfect  of  figures,  who,  in  a 
prattling  tune,  kindly  inquired  after  the  state  of  his  health;  how 
long  he  had  been  in  town  ;  how  the  old  folks  were,  etc.  Complete- 
ly taken  by  surprise,  Harry  faltered,  blushed,  stammered,  and  at 
last  managed  to  blubber  out : 

"  Ain't -you  -  somewhat— mistaken   Mrs.    Miss  " 

"  Not  in  the  least,"  replied  the  lady,  taking  his  arm  ;  "  I  am  very 
well  acquainted  with  you"  throwing,  as  she  spoke,  such  a  glance 
from  the  well-directed  batteries  of  her  bright  eyes  as  made  Harry's 
heart  leap  up  into  his  throat — "  but  I  do  believe  you  really  don't 
know  me." 

By  this  time  the  couple  had  walked  a  block  or  two  ;  the  girl  — for 
she  hardly  seemed  more  — leaning  quite  confidentially  and  trustingly 
on  his  arm,  keeping  up  a  sharp  volley  of  small  talk  which  her 
gallant  found  it  impossible  to  interrupt.  To  tell  the  truth,  he  was 
not  a  little  confused  in  not  being  able  to  identify  the  stranger,  but 
rather  pleased  at  the  idea  of  having  such  an  agreeable  companion. 

Just  as  on  the  point  of  again  inquiring  into  the  unknown's  identity, 
he  was  surprised  at  hearing  a  slight  scream  and  the  exclamation— 
partly  in  alarm  and  partly  in  seeming  wonderment  - 

"  Heavens,  you  are  not  George  after  all :  you  are  a  stranger  1" 


44  ROGUERIES  OP  NEW  YORK. 

Before  the  words  were  fairly  uttered,  the  girl  vanished  down  a 
by  street,  leaving  Harry  speechless  from  astonishment  and  embar- 
rassment. Recovering  in  a  moment,  he  looked  around  for  his  agree- 
able acquaintance  ;  but  of  course  she  was  not  to  be  seen. 

Amazed  at  the  singularity  of  his  adventure,  his  first  impulse  was 
to  place  his  hands  in  his  pockets  when,  horror  of  horrors  !  he  dis- 
covered that  his  right  pocket  was  r«m  est  inventus ;  in  plain  English, 
was  gone  !  A  sudden  idea  struck  the  hitherto  unsuspecting  coun- 
tryman—the girl  was  a  thief ;  she  had  not  only  completely  bam- 
boozled him  secured  his  wallet — but  had  actually  cut  out  the 
lining  where  it  formed  the  pocket ! 

A  quiet  chuckle  to  himself  soon  threw  a  new  aspect  upon  the 
affair.  The  abstracted  wallet  was  an  old  one,  and  contained  nothing 
but  a  lot  of  old  letters  and  receipts,  Harry's  cash  being  in  his 
tobacco-box,  where  he  had  unwittingly  placed  it  for  safe  keeping 
before  going  out.  The  "  biter  was  fairly  bit,"  though  of  course  our 
Peekskill  acquaintance  could  claim  but  little  credit  therefor.  The 
neat  way  in  which  his  pocket  was  cut  out  though,  showed  him  that 
the  smartest  people  are  sometimes  "  done  brown"  when  they  little 
suspect  the  operation !  Harry  remained  in  New  York  the  whole 
week,  but  took  uncommon  care  to  avoid  too  close  familiarity  with 
good-looking  ladies  "  dressed  in  black." 

"  Kids"  is  the  technical  name  of  young  pickpockets,  and  a  very 
dangerous  class  of  youngsters  they  are.  Their  modut  op  randi  is  for 
two  or  three— sometimes  more  -  to  keep  together,  and  by  pushing 
against  the  object  of  their  plot  and  diverting  the  victim's  attention, 
secure  whatever  plunder  they  can.  It  often  happens  that  one  of  the 
gang  is  seized  ;  but  that  avails  but  little,  for  the  stolen  property  has 
been  quickly  transferred,  and  is,  by  the  time  the  loss  is  discovered, 
beyond  the  reach  of  recovery. 

Very  often  pickpockets  operate  in  couples,  and  mutually  assist 
each  other.  If  one  is  detected,  he  generally  manages  to  transfer  his 
booty  to  the  accomplice,  who  makes  off  with  it  while  his  friend  in 
custody  is  loudly  declaring  his  "  innocence." 

"  Henry  Robinson,  residing  in  Hudson,  while  leaving  the  cars  at 
the  depot  in  Thirty-second  street,  caught  a  rascal  with  his  hand  in 
his  pocket,  and  handed  him  over  to  a  policeman.  Mr.  R.'s  pocket- 
book,  however,  was  missing,  though  not  found  upon  the  prisoner. 
The  latter  had  no  doubt  passed  it  to  an  accomplice."  Similar  para- 
graphs may  be  read  daily  in  the  public  journals. 

This  business  of  "  plucking  verdants"  is  not  confined  to  the  streets 
alone.  The  various  steamboat  and  railroad  lines  converging  at  this 
city  are  "  worked"  to  a  great  extent.  Certain  parties  have  their 
"  beats"  well  understood  among  the  "  fraternity,"  which,  to  infringe 
upon,  is  a  violation  of  "  laws"  sacred  as  those  of  the  "  Medes  and 
Persians." 

An  over-cautiousness  in  seeking  to  avoid  the  tricks  of  pickpockets 
sometimes  leads  to  ludicrous  mistakes — as  the  following  incident 
will  show  though,  as  we  said  before,  too  much  real  vigilance 
can  seldom  be  exercised  by  the  ignorant  or  unsuspicious  of  the  char- 
acter of  travelling  companions  or  transient  acquaintances. 


PICKPOCKETS  AND  FOCKETPICKING. 


45 


A  lady  travelling  by  the  land  route  between  New  York  and 
Boston,  was  unfortunate  enough  to  lose  her  purse  containing  a 
considerable  amount  of  money,  which  was  undoubtedly  appropri- 
ated by  a  gentlemanly  person  who  occupied  the  seat  next  to  her,  but 
who  left  during  the  time  the  train  was  passing  through  the  lcng 
tunnel  going  into  New  York  city,  having  managed  to  pick  the 
lady's  pocket  during  that  time  undetected,  as  half  an  hour  previously 
the  purse  was  known  to  be  safe. 

In  recounting  her  loss  to  a  friend,  who  was  soon  after  about  to 
make  the  same  journey,  the  danger  of  gentlemanly-appearing  men 
occupying  the  next  seat  to  unprotected  females,  and,  in  fact,  the 
danger  of  trusting  to  appearances  at  all,  was  strongly  dwelt  upon. 

The  new  tourist  was  particularly  cautioned  to  beware  on  going 
through  the  tunnel  at  New  York,  and.  being  thoroughly  admonished, 
concluded  to  keep  her  pocket-book  grasped  in  her  hand  during  that 
perilous  passage.  The  lady  started  :— sure  enough,  a  gentlemanly 
looking  personage,  on  the  arrival  of  the  train  at  Springfield,  solicited 
permission  to  fill  the  unoccupied  seat  beside  the  fair  traveller,  which, 
according  to  the  rales  of  travel,  could  not  be  refused.  The  stranger's 
manners  were  those  of  gentlemanly  ease  ;  his  costume  was  plain, 
serviceable,  and  adapted  for  travelling.  He  was  polite  j  he  offered 
the  lady  his  newspaper — it  was  coldly  declined  ;  he  volunteered  a 
few  remarks,  which  received  only  chilling  monosyllabic  responses. 
In  fact,  he  made  no  progress  whatever  in  becoming  better  acquaint- 
ed with  his  neighbor,  and  evidently  giving  it  up  in  despair  occupied 
himself  with  his  newspapers  and  a  cheap  novel.  The  lady  had 
almost  forgotten  her  travelling  companion,  as  well  as  the  advice  of 
her  friend,  when  the  recollection  of  both  suddenly  flashed  upon  her 
as  the  train  entered  the  Cimmerian  darkness  of  the  tunnel. 
She  hurriedly  fumbled  for  her  pocket,  but  the  finding  of  ■  lady's 
pod  et  amid  the  folds  of  her  dress  is  often  a  matter  of  difficulty,  and 
now  in  the  impenetrable  darkness  seemed  doubly  so.  Nervously 
she  felt  in  the  direction  where  she  supposed  that  appendage  was, 
till  at  last  the  aperture  was  reached  and  her  hand  thrust  in  to  gra-p 
and  hold  her  pocket-book  safely  till  the  train  should  again  emerge 
in'o  daylight,  when  she  encountered  the  gentleman's  hand  in  her 
pocket.  Whether  to  scream  for  assistance,  to  seize  the  intruder,  or 
in  fact  what  to  do  she  scarcely  knew  ;  however,  acting  upon  a 
sudden  resolution,  she  seized  the  hand  and  held  on,  determined  to 
show  t1  e  villain  delected  in  the  very  act  on  emerging  to  the  light. 

The  train  rolled  slowly— it  seemed,  so  slowly  on,  that  it  seemed 
a3  if  the  end  of  that  terrible  tunnel  would  never  be  reached  she 
clutched  the  intruding  hand  with  a  firmer  grasp,  which  made  no 
especial  efFori,  o  relieve  itself,  probably  knowing  how  useless  would 
be  the  struggle,  or  else,  as  both  were  "ungloved,  feeling  content  to 
rest  in  the  soft,  warm  clasp  that  encircled  it.  At  length,  however, 
the  cars  emerged  into  daylight,  which  found  both  lady  and  gentle- 
man anxiously  looking  towards  each  other,  the  lady's  face  wearing 
a  frightened,  anxious  expression,  and  the  gentleman's  a  curious  and 
puzz:ed  one  as  he  gazed  into  the  startled  eyes  of  ms  companion. 
"  Sir !"  she  began  indignantly,  tightening  her  grasp,  when,  chancing 


46 


ROGUERIES  OF  NEW  YORK. 


to  cast  her  eyes  down,  she  found,  oh  terrible  circumstance !  hrr  hand 
in.  the  oulvde  pocket  of  his  coat,  desperately  grasping  his  hand,  which  it 
had  encountered. 

The  lady  was  covered  with  confusion  at  this  unloosed  for  turn  of 
affairs,  and  the  gentleman,  who  was  a  man  of  discrimination,  saw 
the  encounter  was  accidental,  and  that  each  had  probably  received 
pickpocket  impressions  of  the  other  from  it.  Mutual  explanations 
at  length  ensued  and  cards  were  exchanged. 

We  have  now  given,  in  brief,  an  outline  of  the  manner  in  which 
pickpockets,  to  a  great  extent,  "  operate,"  and  if  any  of  our  readers 
fall  victims  to  their  arts  and  traps  they  do  so  knowingly  and  after  full 
and  proper  warning. 

REMARK  AB  LE  ESCAPE  OP  A  NOTED  FEMALE  CONVICT. 

The  expedients  resorted  to  by  pickpockets,  shoplifters,  and  others 
of  the  fraternity,  to  escape  from  the  toils  of  the  law,  when  they 
have  the  misfortune  to  become  entangled  therein,  are  often  very  in- 
genious. The  following,  of  recent  occurrence,  will  give  an  idea  of 
the  perfection  of  the  plans  sometimes  invented,  and  the  skill  dis- 
played, in  carrying  them  out. 

On  the  3d  of  May  last,  Mary  Brown,  alias  Frances  Stanley,  a 
shrewd  shoplifter,  who  is  well  known  to  our  criminal  authorities, 
was  arrested  for  committing  a  theft  at  the  store  of  Messrs.  A.  T. 
Stewart  &  Co.,  and  locked  up  by  Justice  Dowling  for  trial.  Mary 
was  subsequently  indicted  for  grand  larceny,  and  being  arraigned, 
pleaded  guilty  to  the  indictment,  when  Recorder  Hoffman  remanded 
her  for  sentence.  A  day  or  two  afterwards  the  self-convicted  crimi- 
nal was  taken  to  court  for  sentence,  but  for  some  reason  judgment 
was  not  pronounced.  The  officer  having  her  in  charge  started  back 
to  the  Tombs,  but  when  on  the  corner  of  Centre  and  Chambers 
r.treets,  Girard  P.  Hale,  alias  Smith  alias  Cahill  alias  George  Wilson, 
then  at  large,  but  now  under  conviction  for  breaking  into  the  resi- 
dence of  Mr.  Henry  F.  Vail,  cashier  of  the  Bank  of  Commerce — 
jostled  against  him,  whereupon  the  officer  turned  to  see  what  was 
the  matter.  At  that  moment  his  prisoner,  Mary  Brown,  who  was  close- 
ly veiled,  slipped  from  his  side,  and  her  place  was  filled  by  another 
woman  of  similar  size,  and  dressed  like  Mary  in  every  important  par- 
ticular. Not  suspecting  anything  wrong,  the  officer  with  his  substi- 
tute passed  down  Centre  street  to  the  corner  of  Worth,  and  at  that 
point  the  woman  started  towards  Broadway.  She  was  gently  re- 
minded by  the  officer  that  she  was  his  prisoner,  and  requested  her 
to  proceed  to  prison  without  giving  him  further  trouble.  In  reply, 
the  officer  was  told  that  he  would  do  well  not  to  insult  a  respectable 
lady,  or  else  she  should  be  compelled  to  report  him  to  his  superiors 
and  her  husband  for  punishment.  The  woman  then  raised  her  veil, 
and  to  the  officer's  surprise  and  horror,  he  discovered  that  instead  of 
having  Mary  Brown  in  charge,  he  had  a  strange  woman  whom  he 
had  never  seen  before.  In  his  excitement  the  officer  allowed  the 
woman  to  go  about  her  business,  and  started  rapidly  down  Centre 
street  in  search  of  Mary  Brown,  who  had  so  shrewdly  given  him  the 
slip  ;  but  he  was  unable  to  find  her.   A  few  days  since  District  At- 


THE  PATENT  SAFE  AND  WHAT  IT  IS. 


47 


torney  Hall  called  upon  Capt.  Jourdan,  of  the  Sixth  precinct,  and 
asked  him  to  make  an  effort  to  arrest  the  fugitive  criminal.  The  cap- 
tain took  charge  of  the  case,  and  subsequently  received  informa'ion 
which  led  him  to  believe  that  Mary  was  secreted  in  a  certain  house 
near  Yonkers,  up  the  Nor;h  River.  Captain  Jourdan  accordingly 
took  with  him  officers  Wooldridge  and  McDonald,  of  his  force,  and 
proceeded  to  Yonkers.  After  watching  the  house  in  question  tor 
several  hours  the  convict  was  discovered  and  arrested,  much  to  her 
regret.  She  was  brought  to  the  city  and  committed  to  the  Tomb*. 
Mary  was  about  to  bid  adieu  to  her  home  and  friends  and  sail  for 
California,  she  having  secured  a  passage  on  the  steamer  about  to 
sail  for  the  land  of  gold.  The  woman  who  so  obligingly  took  her 
place  beside  the  officer  is  said  to  be  from  the  city  of  Rochester, 
where  some  years  ago  she  was  convicted  as  an  accessory  to  a  brutal 
murder,  and  sentenced  for  a  long  term  in  the  State  prison. 


CHAPTER  X. 

TTTE  PATENT  SAFE  AND  WHAT  IT  IS. 

Soldiers  passing  up  the  Hudson  River  Railroad  are  encountered 
in  the  vicinity  of  the  depot,  and  one  of  the  confidence  men  c;il;ivates 
his  acquaintance,  then  asks  him  to  drink,  and  soon  becomes  engaged 
in  quite  an  interesting  conversation.  The  soldier  is  as^ed  about  his 
regiment,  his  furlough,  or  if  he  is  discharged  or  on  a  parole,  how 
far  up  the  road  he  is  going,  and  numerous  other  questions,  all 
aiming  at  one  point— to  ascertain  how  much  money  he  has.  While 
thus  engaged  in  conversation,  a  third  gentleman,  who  plays  the  part 
of  a  merchant,  steps  up,  and,  tapping  the  other  confidence  man  on 
the  shoulder,  requests  him  to  pay  a  bill  of  two  hundred  dollars,  or, 
perhaps,  three  hundred  dollars,  which  he  has  against  him  j  but  he 
has  nothing  but  a  five  hundred  dollar  bill,  and  the  merchant,  unable 
to  change  it,  does  not  see  what  he  is  going  to  do.  The  debtor  a^ks 
the  soldier  if  he  can  accommodate  him,  by  changing  the  bill, 
or  let  him  have  two  or  three  hundred  dollars,  as  the  case  may  be, 
and  take  the  five  hundred  dollars  as  security.  In  nine  cases  out  of 
ten  the  soldier  bites  at  the  bait  thus  thrown  out.  and  hands  over  the 
money,  and  takes  the  five  hundred  dollar  bill  as  security.  The 
gentlemen  then  ask  him  to  stand  where  he  is  until  they  step  into  the 
saloon  and  get  a  receipt.  This  he  does,  and  they  enter  ;  the  door 
of  the  saloon  closes,  and  that  Ls  the  last  seen  of  the  swindlers.  The 
soldier  waits,  and  waits,  but  they  do  not  make  their  appearance,  and 
he  learns  that  he  has  been  victimized.  Thus  has  many  soldiers  been 
swindled  of  late,  the  confidence  men  making  their  escape  in  a  sort  of 
an  underground  railway  or  alley  which  brings  them  out  in  Thirty- 
first  street,  a  coiisiderable  distance  from  the  late  scene  of  their 
operations. 


48 


ROGUERIES  OF  NEW  YORK. 


If  this  game  is  not  successful,  another  is  tried,  and  the  "  patent 

safe''  is  brought  into  play.  It  consists  of  a  small  brass  ball  embel- 
ished  with  rings,  very  much  like  some  of  the  marbles  used  by  school 
boys,  for  what  they  term  u  bullies."  This  brass  ball  is,  to  all  appear- 
ance, solid,  but  to  the  initiated  it  is  soon  made  hollow,  by  pressing 
on  a  certain  inner  circle,  when  the  centre  of  the  ball  drops  out, 
which  is  of  the  shape  of  a  small  cone.  The  bottom  of  the  cone  may 
be  unscrewed,  when  a  little  chamber  is  revealed,  in  which  is  a  long 
piece  of  white  paper,  carefully  folded  and  secreted.  The  other  end 
of  the  cone— the  top  of  it— can  be  unscrewed,  and  a  second  chamber 
is  revealed  in  which  is  a  second  piece  of  paper.  This  constitutes  what 
is  known  as  the  "  patent  safe,"  a  game  which  is  played  as  follows  : 

One  gent  has  possession  of  the  ball,  and  shows  it  to  a  stranger, 
who  is  finally,  by  the  advice  of  a  third  party— who  appears  on  the 
scene,  and  who  is  an  accomplice  of  the  first  man— induced  to  bet 
that  the  ball  is  solid ;  $250,  *300,  or  $500  is  bet,  and  the  money 
put  up.  The  confederate  looks  at  the  ball,  and  unobserved  by  the 
countryman,  or  whoever  the  intended  victim  may  be,  abstracts  one 
piece  of  paper,  and  closing  the  aperture  hands  back  the  ball.  The 
confederate  now  urges  the  countryman  to  bet  that  there  is  no  paper 
in  the  ball,  and  offers  to  "go  halves."  The  countryman,  in  almost 
every  instance,  is  sure  to  make  the  bet,  when  behold !  the  first  cham- 
ber is  opened  and  no  paper  is  there.  The  countryman  claims  the 
money,  but  wait— the  second  chamber  is  opened  and  there  is  the 
paper,  which  decides  the  bet,  and  the  countryman  walks  away  a 
sadder  but  a  wiser  man. 

These  are  the  games  which  have  been  going  on  for  some  time  in 
and  around  the  Hudson  River  Depot,  and  despite  th.?  exertions  of 
the  officers  stationed  there,  no  clue  could  be  obtained  of  the  guilty 
parties.  Soldiers  and  travellers  Were  visiting  the  twentieth  Ward 
station  house  daily,  and  lodging  complaints.  .Finally,  Captain 
Walling  gave  the  matter  into  the  hands  of  the  efficient  detective, 
officer  James  Irving,  who  proceeded  to  elucidate  the  mystery,  and 
bring  the  confidence  operator  before  the  bar  of  justice.  For  five 
days  and  nights  the  indefatigable  Irving  pushed  the  matter,  and 
kept  his  lynx  eyes  open  in  all  dirctions.  Finally  his  perseverance 
and  determination  was  rewarded  by  spotting  a  man,  whom  he 
thought  rather  a  suspicious  character,  and  becoming  convinced  that 
he  was'  one  of  the  alleged  confidence  men,  he  consequently  took 
him  into  custody  and  conveyed  him  to  the  station-house.  There  he 
gave  his  name  as  Henry  Grifford,  his  legitimate  name  being  James 
Watson.  Officer  Clow,  of  the  Twentieth  Precinct,  at  the  same  time, 
arrested  Geo.  English,  the  notorious  thief.  On  the  way  to  the 
station-house,  Watson  endeavored  to  escape  from  officer  Irving,  but 
the  latter  drew  forth  what  he  familiarly  termed  his  "pop,"  and  at 
once  brought  Watson  to  terms.  On  the  following  morning  the  par- 
ties were  ta^en  before  Justice  Ledwith,  when  Watson  was  com- 
mitted in  default  of  $2,000  bail,  he  being  identified  by  two  soldiers 
who  had  been  victimized  by  him,  named  Wm.  Shadlow,  of  the  1st 
New  York,  a  native  of  Saratoga  county,  and  Peter  Fort,  of  Herkimer 
county.   English,  who  could  not  be  identified,  was  discharged. 


THE  PATENT  SAFE  AND  WHAT  IT  IS. 


49 


It  sometimes  happens  that  these  sharpers,  in  the  prosecution  of 
their  business,  come  across  persons  who,  being  unusually  quick  at 
"  smelling  a  rat,"  or  having  gained  by  experience  (generally  dearly 
bought)  an  insight  into  these  little  operations,  and  it  occasionally  hap- 
pens that  the  scamps  come  out  second  best  in  the  encounter.  A  case 
in  point  is  the  following  : 

Not  far  from  Springfield.  Illinois,  resided  a  tall,  lank  specimen  of 
humanity  in  the  person  of  Ezekiel  Yance — a  raw,  good-natured 
specimen  of  the  Western  backwoodsman.  Now  Zeke,  as  he  was 
called  by  his  relations  and  acquaintances,  was  a  warm  supporter  of 
Mr.  Lincoln  during  the  canvas  resulting  in  the  first  election  of  that 
gentleman,  and  worked  hard  within  his  limited  sphere  for  the  suc- 
cess of  his  candidate.  Having  materially  assisted  Mr.  L.  in  reaching 
the  Presidential  chair,  it  was  but  natural  that  Zeke  should  desire  to 
see  him  take  his  seat.  The  4th  of  March,  accordingly,  found  our 
Western  friend  in  the  national  capitol.  After  witnessing  the  inaugu- 
ration ceremonies,  Zeke  paid  his  respects  to  th*  new  Chief  Magistrate 
at  the  grand  reception,  and  then  prepared  to  start  for  "  hum."  A 
sudden  idea  altered  his  determination,  however,  and  he  concluded 
that,  having  gone  so  far  East,  it  would  never  do  to  return  without 
having  been  to  "  York."  At  six  o'clock  next  morning  Zeke  arrived 
in  Jersey  City,  and  in  half  an  hour  more  he  was  safely  domiciled  at 
the  Howard  Hotel.  Now,  our  friend  was  not  green  by  any  means  : 
he  had  seen  a  good  deal  of  human  nature  in  its  different  phases,  and 
knew  a  thing  or  two  about  the  ins  and  outs  of  New  York  life,  for  it 
was  not  his  first  visit  to  the  city  j  still  he  was  "  hail  fellow  well 
met"  with  any  and  every  one  ;  indeed  this  was  the  weak  point  in 
his  composition,  and  his  readiness  to  trust  and  confide  in  total 
strangers,  had  more  than  once  brought  him  into  diffiulty. 

Zeke  was  an  ardent  lover  of  out-door  sports,  and  seeing  in  the 
Daily  News  an  announcement  of  a  match  game  between  the  Atlantic 
and  Mutual  Base  Ball  Clubs,  at  the  Elysian  Fields,  Hoboken,  that 
afternoon,  he  determined  to  be  on  hand  to  witness  the  match.  On 
the  ferry  boat,  armed  with  a  ;'long  nine,"  he  was  soon  puffing 
clouds  of  smoke  from  between  his  lips,  when  he  was  accosted  by  a 
well-dressed,  gentlemanly-appearing  mau,  who,  in  a  few  words, 
called  his  attention  to  a  notice  posted  directly  over  his  head  outside 
•  the  cabin  door,  that  "  No  smoking  was  allowed  on  that  side  of  the 
boat."  Thanking  the  polite  stranger  for  his  kind  consideration, 
Zeke  changed  his  base  to  the  gentlemen's  cabin,  where  he  was  soon 
enjoying  the  weed  to  his  heart's  content.  He  was  soon  approached 
again  by  his  attentive  mentor,  who,  taking  the  vacant  seat  next  to 
him,  entered  into  quite  an  agreeable  conversation,  the  upshot  of 
which  was  a  mutual  agreement  to  visit  the  ball  grounds  together. 
When  near  the  Sybil's  cave,  the  legend  connected  wherewith,  as  re- 
lated by  his  companion,  Zeke  was  greatly  interested.  The  couple 
were  accosted  by  a  third  party,  whom  we  shall  designate  as  stranger 
No.  2  ;  No.  1  was  delighted  to  meet  his  friend,  and  was  pleased  to 
introduce  him  to  the  gentleman  from  Illinois.  No.  2  had  come  into 
possession  of  a  remarkable  curiosity — a  little  ivory  ball  made  in 
China,  where,  in  an  enlarged  form,  it  was  used  as  a  safe.   No.  1  ex- 


50 


ROGUERIES  OF  NEW  YORK. 


pressed  a  desire  to  examine  it ;  opening  it,  he  privately  showed 
Zeke  a  small  piece  of  paper  contained  in  the  compartment  exposed 
to  view,  which  he  carefully  removed  and  threw  away  before  return- 
ing the  ball  to  its  owner.  A  light  conversation  springs  up  upon 
the  merits  of  the  "  ivory"  and  the  safety  of  its  contents.  No.  1  of- 
fers to  bet  No.  2,  after  a  little  bantering,  that  the  piece  of  paper 
supposed  to  be  deposited  in  the  safe  is  not  there  ;  the  latter  accepts 
the  bet — $200  dollars — and  puts  up  his  stakes  ;  No.  1  discovers 
that  he  has  got  but  $50  ;  would  his  obliging  acquaintance  from  out 
West  lend  him  the  balance  ;  he  will  give  him  half  the  money  he  is 
sure  to  win.  Anxious  to  oblige,  Zeke  produces  the  cash — nearly 
all  he  has  about  him — hands  it  to  his  acquaintance,  who  covers  the 
other  party's  money ;  the  safe  is  produced,  opened,  and  there  mira- 
bile  diclu  !  is  the  identical  piece  of  paper  previously  thrown  away. 
Zeke's  friend  has  lost,  and  he  himself  is  one  hundred  and  fifty  dol- 
lars out  of  pocket.  Never  mind  says  No.  2  :  come  and  take  a  drink. 
The  trio  enter  the  hotel  at  the  Elysian  Fields,  where  they  have,  by 
this  time,  arrived,  and  the  lucky  winner  calls  for  drinks.  At  this 
point  No.  1  asks  to  be  excused  a  moment ;  in  a  short  time  No.  2 
begs  the  same  favor,  and  both  are  gone— gone  for  good—*'  never  to 
come  back  any  more !"  We  will  not  dwell  upon  poor  Zeke's  sur- 
prise, alarm,  and  indignation  when  he  became  conscious  of  the 
swindle  that  had  been  perpetrated  upon  him.  Suffice  it  to  say  that 
he  did  not  wait  to  see  the  game  of  base  ball,  which  had  inadvert- 
ently cost  him  so  dear,  and  did  not  again  lay  eyes  upon  the  owner 
and  exhibitor  of  the  Chinese  safe,  nor  subsequently  fall  in  with  hig 
polite  acquaintance  of  the  ferry  boat. 

Zeke's  experience  is  but  a  repetition  of  that  of  hundreds  of  others 
who  have  been  bled  in  precisely  the  same  way  and  through  the 
same  means.  If  any  reader  of  this  book  should  ever  fall  a  victim 
to  the  "  Patent  Safe"  game,  he  deserves  to  suffer  for  his  greenness, 
for  green,  indeed,  must  he  be,  if,  with  the  example  given  here,  he 
puts  too  confiding  a  trust  in  street  or  ferry-boat  acquaintances. 


CHAPTER  XI. 

POCKETBOOK  DROPPING 

"  Honesty  is  the  best  policy,"  is  an  adage  more  "  honored  in  the 
breach  than  in  the  observance."  Were  the  teachings  contained  in 
this  homely  proverb  laid  well  to  heart  by  those  who  affect  to  despise 
them,  and  look  to  other  rules  of  conduct  for  success  in  life,  it  is  in- 
conceivable how  comparatively  few  disappointments  or  perplexities, 
not  to  say  disasters,  would  be  met  with.  But  human  nature  is,  and 
always  will  be,  the  same,  and  the  worst  trait  in  this  same  human  na- 
ture is  the  inborn  propensity  of  taking  advantage  of  our  neighbors, 
of  profiting  by  their  afflictions  or  misfortunes,  and  turniDg  to  good 


POCKETBOOK  DROPPING. 


51 


account  their  temporary  or  permanent  embarrassments.  This  is  a 
fact  well  known  to  the  professional  swindler,  and  one  that  he  is  not 
slow  to  make  the  most  of ;  his  operations  are  for  the  most  part 
ba<ed  upon  this  principle,  which  aids  him  not  a  little  in  his  nefa- 
rious designs.  These  remarks  are  introductory  to  the  consideration 
of  the  heading  of  this  chapter,  the  "  Pocketbook  Dropping"'  game. 

This  trick  is  a  favorite  card  with  the  New  York  rogue,  and  one 
seldom  played  to  disadvantage.  Verdant  Green,  Esq.,  from  Housa- 
tonic,  delighted  at  the  idea  ot  securing  the  tempting  treasures  par- 
tially revealed  as  the  contents  of  a  well-stuffed  wallet,  would  not 
think  twice  in  giving  therefor  whatever  money  he  might  have  about 
him  finding,  too  late,  however,  that  he  had  but  paid  the  penalty 
exacted  by  designing  scoundrels  from  just  such  simpletons  as  him- 
self. Of  late  years  this  game  has  not  been  so  commonly  practiced  ; 
but  this  very  circumstance  renders  it  all  the  more  necessary  for 
strangers  to  be  upon  their  guard. 

Here  is  an  illustration  of  the  way  in  which  victims  are  caught  by 
the  pocketbook  bait : 

Mr.  B.  has  been  for  many  years  employed  in  the  office  of  an  even- 
ing paper,  and  is  thoroughly  posted  on  all  the  ins  and  outs  of  me- 
tropolitan life.  Sitting  one  day  in  the  counting-room  of  the  "  Ex- 
press" establishment,  then  at  the  corner  of  Wall  and  Nassau  street, 
he  was  startled  by  the  sudden  appearance  of  a  man  rushing  down 
the  steps  (the  office  was  in  the  basement),  holding  in  one  hand  a 
plethoric  pocketbook,  and  grasping  with  the  other  the  handle  of  a 
well  stuffed  valise.  The  individual  appeared  to  be  laboring  under 
great  excitement  j  the  perspiration  was  pouring  from  his  forehead 
in  streams,  for  it  was  mid- August,  his  shirt  collar-  which  he  had 
doubtless  put  on,  well  starched,  the  same  morning  was  lying  flat 
over  the  lappets  of  his  vest  ;  his  neck-tie  had  slipped  around,  wrong 
end  foremost;  while  his  waistcoat  was  rolled  up,  in  large  wrinkles, 
revealing  a  roll  of  dirty  linen  midway  between  the  waistband  of 
his  unmentionables  ;  as  for  his  face  and  expression  of  countenance, 
they  are  indescribable.  With  panting  breath  and  forced  utterance, 
he  ejaculated  in  a  voice  resembling  the  grating  of  a  steam  saw-mill : 

"Sold— by— a— darned  -  dirty — cuss  ;  is  -  this— a— pcrlice  office?" 

Sinking  exhausted  in  a  chair,  he  awaited  a  reply  to  his  interroga- 
tion. B.,  after  recovering  somewhat  from  his  astonishment,  and  in- 
forming his  visitor  that  he  was  in  a  newspaper,  not  a  "  perlice" 
office,  politely  inquired  the  cause  of  his  perturbation. 

Handing  the  pocketbook  to  B.,  the  latter  opened  it,  and  found 
therein  numerous  bills  of  the  denomination  of  "50's"  and  "  100's" 
on  the  Union  Trust,  and  several  western  wild-cat  banks.  Alight 
suddenly  broke  in  upon  him,  and  turning  to  the  stranger,  he  said  : 

"  I  see  what  is  the  matter  with  you.  You  have  been  taken  in  and 
done  for." 

"  Jes'  so,"  replied  the  Yankee,  for  such  he  undoubtedly  was,  with 
a  pronunciation  and  air  that  would  have  made  John  Owens  die 
with  envy.    "  Jes7  so,  and  I  calkilate  you  know  it.*' 

By  this  time  quite  a  crowd  had  collected  around  the  swindled 
man,  and  many  jokes  were  cracked  at  his  expense  ;  these,  however, 


52 


ROGUERIES  OF  NEW  YORK. 


he  appeared  not  to  notice,  paying  little  or  no  attention  to  tbem,  but 
■wailing  with  intense  anxiety  to  liear  what  B.  was  about  to  say. 

44  Let  me  see,"  said  the  latter  ;  44  you  left  you?  hotel  a  short  time 
ago,  ('Yes,'  uttered  the  poor  fellow,')  and  while  looking  into  the 
store  windows,  ('  Jes'  so,')  admiring  the  goods  there  displayed,  a 
well-dressed  man  ('  Darn  his  picter,')  in  a  great  hurry,  dropped  that 
pocketbook  at  your  feet.  Ticking  it  up,  he  asked  you  if  it  was 
yours  ;  you  hardly  knew  what  to  say,  but  finally  blubbered  out  thai 
it  wasn'  t.  Opening  the  wallet  he  displayed  to  your  astonished  eyes 
the  treasure  it  con.aincd,  ('  Yes,  he  did,')  saying  that  he  would  like 
to  hunt  up  the  owner  of  the  money,  but  was  obliged  to  leave  for 
Philadelphia  by  the  next  train,  just  about  starting.  1  However,  I'll 
tell  you  what  1*11  do,'  said  he  ;  f  the  pocketbook  will  be  advertised 
to-morrow — give  me  twenty  dollars — you  can  have  the  wallet,  and 
go  and  claim  the  reward.'  You  were  at  once  taken  with  the  propo- 
sition, paid  over  the  money,  and  found  yourself  bit." 

A  groan  from  the  unfortunate  Yank  bore  witness  to  the  faithfinl- 
ness  of  the  description. 

44  Take  my  advice,"  continued  B.,  "  go  to  the  detectives'  office  un- 
der the  City  Hall,  make  known  your  loss,  and  perhaps  you  may  re- 
cover your  money.  Let  this  be  a  lesson  to  you,  never  again  to  put 
confidence  in  New  York  rascals,  nor  seeii  to  4  speculate'  at  the  ex- 
pense of  another's  supposed  loss." 

Finding  but  little  sympathy  expressed  for  him,  the  recipient  of 
B.'s  admonition  thanked  him  for  his  counsel,  took  his  departure, 
and  was  never  seen  again,  at  least  in  that  vicinity. 

After  reading  the  above  no  further  warning  will  be  needed,  to  in- 
duce the  unwary  to  be  on  the  lookout  for  similar  designs  upon  their 
pockets,  or  for  those  greedy,  but  fjreen  individuals,  ever  on  the  alert 
for  a  "cute  spec,"  to  ta'<e  care  lest,  now  and  then,  with  all  their 
smartness,  they  are  bought  and  sold  44  dirt  cheap." 


CHAPTER  XTI. 

THIMBLE  TUGGING. 

Thimble  rigging  is  a  trick  as  44  old  as  the  hills  ;"  its  existence  is 
coeval  with  the  turf  itself,  and  is  the  natural  and  almost  inevitable 
accompaniment  of  horse-racing  and  jockeying.  But  the  knight  ot 
the  thimble  does  not  confine  himself  to  the  vicinity  of  the  race 
course ;  he  is  to  be  met  with  at  the  ball  or  cricket  grounds  at  Ho- 
boken  ;  occasionally  on  the  ferry-boat ;  now  and  then  near  the 
Central  Park,  (never  in  it,  for  the  vigilant  metropolitans  that  keep 
watch  and  guard  over  that  favorite  resort,  would,  if  they  caught 
him  within  their  precincts,  soon  terminate  his  operations  ;)  once  and 
a  while  he  is  to  be  seeu  near  the  City  Hall,  especially  on  holidays 
or  when  a  procession  is  to  be  reviewed  by  the  City" Fathers.  In 
short,  wherever  there  is  a  crowd  there  is  he  also. 


THE  CLAIRVOYANT  AND  HER  DUPE. 

Sco  Tage  21. 


54 


ROGUERIES  OF  NEW  YORK. 


The  "  Little  Joker"  is  a  very  simple  trick,  and  yet,  from  its  very 
simplicity,  all  the  more  succeisful  in  entrapping  the  unwary.  The 
apparatus  is  (occasionally)  a  small  stand,  three  brass  thimbles  and 
a  iittle  bull  re.-ernbling,  in  size  and  appearance,  a  green  pea.  Often 
the  former  is  dispensed  with,  and  the  crown  of  a  hat  or  the  knees 
used  instead.  The  '-'Rigger,"  in  the  most  nonchalant  manner  im- 
aginable, places  the  ball  apparently  under  one  of  the  tliimbles  in 
plain  view  of  the  spectators,  and  oilers  to  bet  any  sum  that  "  it  isn't 
there."  Our  friend  from  the  country  who  is  looking  on  -  an  inte- 
rested spectator— is  astonished  at  such  a  proposition,  and  looks 
upon  the  individual  making  it  as  little  better  than  a  fool  5  for  didn't 
he  see  the  ball  placed  under  the  thimble,  and  therefore  must  it  not 
be  there  still  ?  His  idea  on  this  point  is  soon  confirmed  —a  bystander 
take3  up  the  bet,  the  thimble  is  raised,  and  there  sure  enough  is  the 
ball— just  where  he  knew  it  was ! 

Again  the  ball  is  covered,  and  once  more  the  bet  is  offered.  Eager 
to  prove  his  sagacity,  our  friend  produces  a  "V"or  a  "X  spot," 
and  covers  the  sharper's  money.  The  thimble  is  raised,  a  moment 
of  expectation,  a  single  glance,  and  the  ball  is  gone!  A  shout  of 
laughter  from  the  swindler  and  his  confederates  standing  around, 
announce  the  fact  that  the  gentleman  from  the  rural  districts  has 
been  "  sold."  Pocketing,  not  his  money,  but  his  loss,  the  victim 
walks  away  disconsolate,  painfully  conscious  that  he  has  been 
"  done,"  not  only  out  of  his  cash,  but  has  had  the  wool  pulled  over 
his  eyes  in  a  (to  him)  most  incomprehensible  manner. 

The  following  is  a  case  in  point :  Jedediah  Denart,  a  native  of 

 ,  Connecticut,  "  came  to  York"  on  business  for  his  "  old  man," 

who  kept  a  "  notion"  store.  Jedediah  was  particularly  instructed 
to  look  out  for  sharpers,  and  to  keep  his  "  eye-teeth  cut,"  as  he  had 
been  intrusted  with  some  two  or  three  hundred  dollars,  with  which 
to  make  purchases.  Arriving  in  New  York  late  at  night  he  put  up 
at  a  second-class  hotel  in  Greenwich  street.  At  the  breakfast  table 
next  morning,  he  became  acquainted  with  an  agreeable  stranger, 
who,  after  a  pleasant  conversation,  invited  our  hero  to  go  out  and 
see  the  sights.  The  invitation  was  promptly  accepted,  and  arm  in 
arm  the  pair  were  soon  sauntering  up  Broadway.  Sundry  "'smiles" 
were  indulged  in,  and  after  a  mutual  consultation,  a  trip  to  the 
Fashion  Course  to  witness  the  races  was  resolved  upon  — "  Flora 
Temple"  and  "  George  Patchen"  having  been  entered  for  one  of 
their  famous  matches.  Soon  after  arriving  upon  the  ground,  the  at* 
tention  of  Jedediah  was  attracted  by  a  large  crowd  forming  a  semi- 
circle in  front  of  an  empty  dry  goods  box,  behind  which  an  attenu- 
ated specimen  of  humanity,  whose  principal  capital  in  trade  seemed 
an  uncommonly  large  supply  of  the  "  gift  of  the  gab"— was  vocife- 
rously inviting  the  spectators,  as  he  dexterously  fingered  the  thim- 
bles and  ball,  to  bet  upon  the  "  Little  Joker."  Now,  our  Connecti- 
cut youth  had  frequently  "  heard  tell"  of  this  same  game,  and  re- 
ceived several  warnings  from  his  respected  "  parienfc"  against  being 
"  sucked  in"  by  this  very  swindle.  Curiosity,  however,  was  a  strong 
feature  in  his  character,  and  despite  of  an  inward  distrust  of  his 
own  conduct,  he  approached  the  crowd,  and  was  soon  laughing 


CONCERT  SALOONS — THEIR  INMATES.  55 


with  his  companion  at  the  remarkable  ease  with  which  several 

"  green  uns"  were  taken  in.  At  this  point  his  "friend"  expressed 
a  desire  of  trying  his  luck,  and  accordingly  bet  fifty  cents  that  the 
ball  was  under  the  second  thimble,  which  proved  to  be  the  fact. 
Greatly  elated  at  this  success,  Jedediah,  forgetting  the  many  warn- 
ings received,  boldly  staked  a  five  dollar  greenback,  and  of  course 
lost.  Astonished  and  chagrined  at  his  ill-success,  he  laid  down  an- 
other "legal  tender,"  with  the  same  result.  He  now  began  to 
u  smell  a  rat,"  and  turning  to  his  friend  of  the  hotel,  found  he  had 
vanished.  Aware  that  he  had  been  duped,  he  sensibly  concluded 
to  leave  the  place,  and  in  a  short  time  was  back  at  his  hotel,  a  sad- 
der but  a  wiser  man.  It  is  perhaps  needless  to  say  he  did  not  see 
the  great  race,  nor  anything  more  of  his  attentive  friend. 

The  above  is  but  one  case  out  of  a  thousand,  and  Jedediah  mere- 
ly a  representative  of  a  numerous  class,  who  never  will  learn  wis- 
dom save  in  the  costly  and  bitter  school  of  experience. 


CHAPTER  XIIL 

CONCERT  SALOONS  THEIR  INMATES. 

"  Sinks  of  iniquity"  is  the  fitting  appellation  of  the  hundreds  of 
"  concert  saloons"  with  which  the  leading  thorougfaresot  New  Tork 
are  cursed.  Man  traps,  woman  traps,  regular  "nets  of  the  Devil," 
as  the  Puri.ans  would  say- these  hells  flourish,  flaunting  their 
hideous  nakedness  in  the  very  face  of  the  community.  Repeated 
have  been  the  efforts  made  to  suppress  them,  but  thus  far  uselessly. 

Of  all  the  dangers  surrounding  the  unwary  of  both  sexes,  leading 
to  all  kinds  of  excesses  and  crime,  we  unhesitatingly  place  these 
"  saloons"  in  fiirst  rank.  How  many  a  young  man,  entering  upon 
life  with  fair  prospects  and  honorable  character,  has  had  his  whole 
existence  blasted,  as  it  were,  by  early  visits  and  the  results  arising 
therefrom  to  these  painted  sepulchres  ?  How  many  a  fair,  once  in- 
nocent girl  dates  her  ruin  from  the  moment,  at  the  persuasion  of 
others,  she  suffered  her  foot  to  cross  the  fatal  threshold  of  one  of 
these  moral  Golgothas  ? 

It  is  now  some  eight  years,  perhaps,  since  the  first  establishment 
of  the  kind  opened  in  New  York,  under  the  name  of  the"Melodeon," 
at  the  old  Chinese  Assembly  Rooms,  on  Broadway.  The  manager 
was  a  Pbilade^hian,  and  had  a  similar  institution — and  has  now  — 
in  that  city.  The  "  Melodeon"  itself  was  a  weak  imitation  of  the 
London  concert  saloons,  with  all  their  vices  and  none  of  their  re- 
deeming qualities.  From  this  beginning  have  arisen  and  prospered 
the  hundreds  of  "  casinos,"  "  bagnios,"  arcades,"  "  palaces,"  &c, 
which  now  live  and  thrive  upon  the  dregs  of  society.  By  all  means 
the  most  notorious  of  New  York  concert  saloons  is  the  infamous 
"  Gaieties,"  in  Broadway,  near  Houston  street.   It  was  the  propne- 


56 


ROGUERIES  OF  NEW  YORK. 


tor  of  this  establishment  that  first  inaugurated  the  "  pretty  waiter 
girl"  attraction  that  has  since  proved  so  immensely  "  popular."  In 
the  zenith  of  its  success,  whole  columns  of  the  morning  papers  were 
taken  up  with  advertisements  of  the  "  beauty,  grace,  ability,"  &c, 
of  the  female  attendants,  who,  it  was  unblushingly  announced,  were 
"  most  attentive  and  complaisant  upon  the  wishes  of  visitors."  la 
the  meaning  of  the  words  quoted  plain  ?  What  brothel  would  or 
could  advertise  the  nature  of  its  business  in  more  comprehensive 
language  ?  A  visit  to  this  establishment  was  lately  made  by  a  gen- 
tleman connected  with  the  press,  who  gives  the  following  account 
of  what  he  in  part  witnessed : 

The  high  fashions  of  the  M  Gaieties"  are  only  to  be  seen  after  mid- 
night. Prior  to  that  period,  though  the  proceedings  are  lestivious, 
yet  they  are  conducted  with  a  semblance  of  good  order.  After 
tweWe  o'clock:  at  night,  however,  the  courtesans  who  domicile  therein 
lend  the  charm  of  their  presence  to  the  attraction,  restrained  from 
an  earlier  appearance  on  the  festive  floor,  by  apprehension  of  a 
possible  recognition  by  some  of  their  former  dupes  who  might 
chance  to  be  in  attendance.  At  this  period  of  the  nighithe  company 
also  embraces  delegations  from  the  dem  -monde  of  Green,  Mercerr 
Wooster,  Crosby,  Elm.  Houston,  Thompson  and  Sullivan  streets,  ac- 
companied by  their  gav  cavaliers.  I  was,  of  course,  prepared  to  see 
some  rough  capers,  but  certainly  none  so  intense  as  those  witnessed. 
"  Ain't  yer  going  to  dance?"  inquired  a  bloated  creature  of  a  friend 
in  company.  "  No,  sir,"  he  replied,  "  not  a  dance."  "  What  are  yer 
going  to  do?  If  yer  did't  c  ime  in  to  dance,  yer'd  better  git  out  and 
make  room  f  >r  ihem  as  will.  Dar  ver  hear?"  To  this  officious  per- 
sonage my  friend  replied,  "  that  it  "he  did  not  want  a  stye  raised  over 
his  eye,  he  had  better  dry  up,"  which  mild  advice  he  at  once  ac- 
cepted, and  was  soon  after  heard  in  another  part  of  the  room  vocifer- 
ating, '  take  yer  places  for  a  cawdriU"  (quadrille).  Then  one  of  these 
•present  stepped  up  to  a  very  pretty  girl  of  about  seventeen,  and 
,asked  her  to  dance  with  him.  "Not  if  I  know  myself,"  was  the  im- 
mediate reply.  ''My  man  don't  allow  me  to  dance  with  loafers."" 
: Scarcely  had  she  uttered  the  words,  when  the  ruffian  gave  her  two 
joiolent  kicks  in  th°-  stomach,  which  sent  the  poor  girl  screaming  to  the 
corner  of  the  bill.  The  dance,  how  ever,  went  on  "  fast  and  lurious*' 
until  the  music  ceased. 

This  is  the  "  model  concert  hall "  of  America !  and  these  aban- 
doned females  specimens  of  the  "beautiful  and  agreeable  young 
ladies  whose  charms  are  so  attractive !" 

Immediately  adjoining  the  "  Gaieties"  is  a  rendezvous  for  thieves, 
pickpockets,  courtesans  el  id  cmne,  genus ;  and  as  this  is  the  head- 
quarters for  a  large  number  of  the  "  pretty  waiter  girls"  employed 
in  other  saloons,  we  give  a  somewhat  lengthy  description  of  it  from 
the  pen  of  the  writer  already  referred  to.  It  is  difficult  to  read  such 
loathsome  details  without  an  inward  shudder  of  disgust,  but  to  omit 
them  would  do  no  good  ;  publishing  them  may,  perhaps,  serve  as  a 
"warning  and  admonition  : — 

This  upper  floor  was  in  all  respects  most  disgusting.  There 
were  thirty  courtesans  on  one  floor,  embracing  twenty-four  rooms. 
There  were  women  from  Ireland.  England,  Scotland,  France  and 
Germany,  old,  young,  middle  aged   Some  were  confessedly  pretty, 


CONCERT  SALOONS — THEIR  INMATES. 


57 


others,  with  suitable  clothing,  would  pass  for  good-loolang,  while 
others  were  to  the  la-t  degree  unconditionally  repulsive.  The  ob- 
scenity of  their  language,  and  the  utter  filthiness  of  their  personnel, 
were  enough  to  send  revulsion  through  the  coarsest  organization. 
With  ulcerated  arms  and  necks,  swollen  limbs  and  eyes  sickeningly 
bleared  and  bloodshot,  we  leave  the  reader  to  fill  up  the  outline. 
These  are  the  creatures  that  entrap  the  unwary  of  the  opposite  sex, 
fleecing  them  morally,  physically  and  pecuniarily. 

The  furniture  consists  of  a  bedstead,  washstand,  bowl  and  pitcher, 
bed  and  bedding,  carpet,  lounge  and  stove.  The  lady  proprietress 
of  this  Broadway  establishment  provides  the  furniture  together 
with  a  peck  of  coal  a  day  and  a  light  at  night.  On  the  day  of  this 
visit  thirty-three  girls  were  counted  on  this  attic  floor. 

The  next  floor  below  the  attic  is  occupied  by  street  girls,  each  of 
whom  has  a  lover  she  supports  on  the  wages  of  degradation.  It  is 
alleged  by  those  supposed  to  know  that  the  "  husband  game"  (de- 
scribed elsewhere)  is  carried  on  here  quite  extensively.  A  man  is 
run  in  here  after  ten  o'clock  at  night,  when  the  lights  are  put  out. 
Admission  fee  is  exacted  before  the  verdant  one  enters  the  room, 
and  just  as  he  is  about  accommodating  his  garments  for  a  conve- 
niently shady  slumber,  a  knock  is  heard.  The  affrighted  "lady,"  in 
dishabille,  imploringly  begs  the  deluded  gent,  to  get  out  of  another 
door  and  come  ag  liu  another  time,  to  which  he  of  course,  under  the 
peculiar  circumstances,  gladly  consents.  In  ten  minutes  after,  the 
same  "  free-and-easy"  lady  can  be  seen  promenading  Broadway  in 
search  of  another  "  flat." 

BOOMS  AND  RENT. 

The  rooms  on  this  floor  are  let  at  from  fourteen  to  seventeen 
dollars  a  week,  gas  and  coal  included.  The  next  floor  below  is 
occupied  by  what  the  proprietress  of  this  den  of  thieves  and  prosti- 
tution calls  married  men  and  their  wives,  but  in  reality  is  occupied 
by  bounty  jumpers  and  their  mistresses. 

Here  are  the  biographies  of  two  or  three  of  these  pretty  waiter 
girls.  Kate  Austin  was  born  in  Lawrence,  Mass.  She  was  engaged 
in  the  Pemberton  Mill  at  the  time  of  the  accident,  when  so  m.iny  of 
the  girls  there  employed  were  killed.  She  left  Lawrence  with -a 
man  named  Foys,  who  took  her  to  the  house  of  Madame  Philip 
Emerald,  Boston.  Here  she  "  shook"  Foys  and  took  up  with  a  man 
named  Osborn,  with  whom  she  went  to  Washington,  where  she  put 
up  at  Mary  Hall  s  house.  She  remained  in  Washington  a  year, 
when  she  came  to  New  York,  and  put  up  at  No.  107  Greene  street 
Here  she  becime  acquainted  with  Bill  Johnson,  a  bounty  jumper, 
and  lived  with  him  until  he  was  seized  by  an  officer  last  summer, 
and  sent  "  to  the  front."  After  his  arrest,  she  went  back  to  Boston, 
and  lived  with  oneMitty  Cowen,  in  Eadicott  street.  When  she  came 
back  to  thi3  city,  she  took  rooms  at  G18  Broadway,  where  she  now 
resides. 

Mary  French,  living  on  the  same  floor,  is  known  in  Boston  by  the 
name  of  Mary  Floyd.  She  has  served  three  years  in  prison  at  South 
Boston,  and  has  been  in  this  city  since  September  last   Lately  she 


V 


58  ROGUERIES  OF  NEW  YORK. 

has  resided  at  618  Broadway.  She  is  in  the  house  all  day,  and 
"  cruises"  at  night. 

Sarah  Merrill  is  a  native  of  Manchester,  N.  H.,  where  her  parents 
still  reside.  She  was  decoyed  from  her  home  by  a  fellow  named 
Dodge,  who  took  her  to  Boston  and  put  her  in  a  house  on  Harrison 
avenue,  from  which  she  got  married  to  a  fellow  named  Phelps,  now 
in  the  army.  She  has  never  been  a  street  cruiser,  but  soon  will  bo 
if  she  lives  long  at  618.  No.  19  is  a  rough  room,  and  is  continually 
filled  with  bounty  jumpers,  pickpockets,  and  loafers  from  the  Gaie- 
ties. The  landlady  lives  on  this  floor,  and  seems  indignant  if  any 
oue  hints  that  she  is  the  mistress  of  a  house  of  prostitution.  But  we 
would  say  to  her  that  618  Broadway  is  not  only  one  of  the  most  in- 
famous houses  of  prostitution,  but  one  of  the  most  God-forsaken 
retreats  for  thieves  in  this  city.  We  doubt  if  its  equal  for  versatile 
and  accomplished  villainy  and  shame  can  be  any  where  produced, 
and  we  mildly  assert  that  Madame  E.,  drawing  her  "  internal  re- 
venue" from  thieves  and  courtesans,  can't  well  help  knowing  it,  as 
she  lives  in  the  house  and  knows  that  the  only  way  those  women 
have  in  paying  the  big  rent  she  demands  of  them,  is  by  prostitution 
only. 

In  room  G,  on  the  next  floor,  three  of  the  most  depraved  young 
cyprians  in  the  house  hold  forth.  Fanny  Chapman  is  at  the  head  of 
this  household.  She  is  a  tall,  raw-boned  Irish  girl,  is  quite  a  fight- 
ing character,  and  thinks  nothing  of  hitting  her  companions  over 
the  head  with  a  bottle  or  tumbler.  She  boasts  extensively  of  her 
influence  with  the  patrolmen  on  that  beat,  claiming  that  she  is  all 
right  with  them.  The  second  is  "  Frank  Warren"  (as  she  calls  her- 
self), a  young  girl  about  twenty  years  of  age.  She  was  born  in 
Maine,  and  has  worked  in  the  Lowell  (Mass.)  mills.  From  there 
she  went  to  Boston,  where  she  took  lodging  at  Charley  Babb's,  in 
Portland  street.  After  acquiring  a  notorious  reputation  in  "  the 
modern  Athens,"  she  was  directed  to  leave  the  city  or  adjourn  to 
the  House  of  Correction.  She  adopted  the  former  alternative  and 
came  to  New  York,  where  she  became  acquianted  with  a  thief 
named  "Billy  Banks."  Banks  has  lately  been  sent  to  State  Prison 
for  four  years,  and  Miss  Warren  is  now  the  chere  amie  of  one  Smith. 
"  Frank  Warren  '  is  a  vulgar  and  profane  young  creature,  whose 
language  and  practices  are  worthy  of  a  Five  Points  stroller.  The 
third  of  these  graces  is  known  as  "  Red-head  Julia,  a  girl  of  some 
eighteen  years.  She  is  said  to  be  "  under  the  protection"  of  a  per- 
son called  "  Japanese  Tommy."   So  much  for  these  three  divinities. 

There,  reader,  when  induced  to  enter  one  of  these  "  hells,"  think 
upon  the  above,  and  if  in  defiance  of  the  warning  therein  conveyed 
you  do,  then  on  "  your  own  head  be  the  consequences." 

Assaults,  robberies,  and  murders  are  of  frequent  occurrence  in 
these  "  saloons  ;"  and  as  for  pockefcpicking,  that  is  a  legitimate  part 
of  their  business.  The  places  on  Broadway  have  apparently  cer- 
tain redeeming  qualities,  and  the  proprietors  of  one  or  two  in  par- 
ticular go  so  far  as  to  assure  their  patrons  that  "  a  police  force  is 
alwa\s  on  hand  to  preserve  order!"  This  announcement  has  a 
negative  truth  in  it,  for  the  police  are  sometimes  to  be  seen,  but  only 


CONCERT  SALOONS— THEIR  INMATES.  59 


when  their  services  are  required  to  arrest  some  notorious  character, 
or  to  prevent  a  breach  of  the  peace. 

Let,  us  enter  one  of  these  concert  halls,  reader,  and  for  the  sake 
of  satisfying  our  own  curiosity,  to  "see  what  is  to  be  seen."  Do  not 
follow  the  example,  however,  another  time,  even  if  you  have  the 
desire,  after  this  visit. 

Proceeding  up  Broadwaj  at  eleven  o'clock,  p.  m.,  on  the  right 

hand  side.  -When  near  tile  comer  of  G  street,  we  notice  just 

above  the  entrace  to  a  cellar,  a  flaming  transparency,  with  the  in- 
scription "  Madame  B  's  arcade."   Going  down  a  few  steps  we 

find  our  view  of  the  interior  obstructed  by  a  large  screen,  painted 
white,  with  the  almost  nude  figure  of  a  "  dancing  Venus,"  coarsely 
painted  thereon.  This  screen  is  placed  across  the  entrance  a  few 
feet  from  the  door,  obliging  us  to  flank  it  a  la  Sherman,  and  enter 
the  hall  by  going  around  it.  We  find  the  floor  handsomely  covered 
with  matting  and  oil  cloth.  On  the  right  hand  side,  nearest  the 
door,  is  the  bar,  over  which  presides  a  genius  of  the  male  sex,  whose 
chief  attractions  consist  of  a  decided  "  red  head"  and  an  immense 
paste  breastpin  stuck  in  the  bo3om  of  a  ruffled  shirt.  The  bar  is 
well  furnished,  and  any  drink  called  for,  from  beer  to  champagne, 
can  be  instantly  obtained.  A  significant  feature,  and  one  that  easily 
arrests  the  attention,  is  a  formidable  Colt's  revolver,  a  loot  in  length, 
suspended  immediately  over  the  sideboard.  This  weapon,  it  may 
be  observed,  is  not  placed  there  as  an  ornament ;  it  is  in  itself  a 
monitor,  warning  those  inclined  to  be  disorderly  of  the  danger  of 
carrying  their  boisterousness  or  ruffianism  too  far.  On  the  walla 
are  black  engravings  of  the  French  school,  fit  ornaments  for  the 
place.  But  while  we  are  taking  this  casual  survey,  one  of  the  at- 
tendant nymphs,  with  a  great  scantiness  of  clothing,  affording  dis- 
play for  bare  shoulders  and  not  unhandsome  ankles,  appears,  and 
in  a  voice  of  affected  sweetness,  wholly  at  variance  with  her  brazen 
countenance  and  impertinent  air,  asks  us  to  take  a  seat,  and  "  what 
we'll  have."  We  modestly  ask  for  u  two  ales,"  which  are  soon 
placed  before  us  and  paid  for.  While  quietly  sipping  the  beverage 
we  will  take  a  glance  at  our  surroundings.  Back  of  the  hall— we 
are  sitting  at  a  table  near  the  centre  of  the  apartment— on  a  raised 
platform  is  an  asthmatic  pianoforte,  upon  which  an  individual  with 
threadbare  coat,  colorless  vest,  and  faded  nankeen  pantaloons  is 
thumming  away  for  dear  life.  Out  of  tune  himself,  he  tortures  the 
poor  instrument  in  away  that  threatens  its  instant  dissolution,  rend- 
ing its  heart-strings  and  causing  it  to  shriek  with  agony,  wailing 
out  the  "  tune  that  the  old  cow  died  to."  This  is  the  only 
piece  of  music  the  performer  is  acquainted  with,  judging  from  the 
persistent  manner  in  which  he  cling3  to  it.  What  he  lacks  in  musi- 
cal knowledge,  however,  he  makes  up  with  intention,  and  thumps 
away  quite  manfully,  only  stopping  now  and  then  to  call  for  4<  a 
drinK,"  with  which  to  recruit  his  exhaust  energies. 

But  we  have  come  to  behold  the  chief  attraction  of  the  establish- 
ment—the "  pretty  waiter  girls." 

Looking  around,  we  see,  perhaps,  twenty  females  in  various  styles 
of  dress — some  in  "  Turkish"  costume  (supposed  to  be  hourts,  no 


60 


ROGUERIES  OF  NEW  YORK. 


doubt)  ;  others  attired  as  "  Spanish  peasants ;"  and  others  still  in 
plain  evening  attire.  The  latter  are  for  the  most  part  far  from 
"possessing  charms,"  and  from  their  looks  have  long  since  outlived 
their  beauty;  but  what  they  lack  in  this  respect  they  make  up  in 
others.  The  girl  that  waited  upon  us  on  our  entrance  again  ap- 
proaches, and  seeing  our  glasses  empty  takes  them  away  to  be  re- 
plenished. She  soon  reappears,  and  in  response  to  our  invitation 
takes  a  seat  beside  us,  while  we  enter  into  conversation  with  her. 
She  is  a  fair  sample  (excuse  the  mercantile  term)  of  her  class,  and 
her  history  is  a  history  of  a  majority  of  her  associates.  Not  unpre- 
possessing in  appearance  by  any  means,  Ellen — that,  she  tells  us,  is 
her  name — is  twenty-two  years  of  age  ;  was  born  in  the  village  of 
Tarry  town,  resided  with  her  parents  until  she  was  eighteen,  when 
her  father  died  ;  leaving  her  mother  with  her  youngest  brother,  she 
came  to  New  York  to  seek  employment.  On  arriving  in  the  city  she 
obtained  a  situation  in  a  millinery  store  ;  remained  there  but  a  short 
time  ;  was  out  of  work  ;  had  no  friends,  no  money  ;  would  not  go 
back  to  her  mother,  who  was  poor ;  saw  an  advertisement  of  Madame 

B  for  "pretty  waiter  girls ;"  answered  it;  was  engaged  in  the 

saloon  ;  seduced  (partly  by  promises,  and  partly  by  threats)  by  one 
of  the  frequenters  of  the  establishment,  and  has  since  led  the  life  of 
a  prostitute!  Ellen  told  her  story  without  the  least  emotion,  and 
when  asked  about  her  mother,  carelessly  replied,  "she  supposed  the 
old  woman  was  dead  by  this  time." 

Such  are  the  effects  of  vice  and  a  life  of  infamy  upon  the  noble 
feelings  and  natural  impulses  of  the  female  heart.  With  an  excla- 
mation of  "  Oh,  there's  my  man  I"  our  attendant  suddenly  left  us, 
and  joined  an  individual  who  had  just  entered  the  apartment,  and 
we  did  not  see  her  again. 

At  a  table  nearly  opposite  to  our  own,  are  seated  a  couple,  one 
at  least  of  whom,  to  even  a  casual  obseiver,  is  a  stranger  to  the 
place  and  its  surroundings ;  there  is  no  doubt  of  it.  Wholly  en- 
wrapped in  the  beauty  and  grace  of  his  female  companion,  he  is 
totally  oblivious  to  all  passing  around  ;  she  is  exerting  all  her  arts 
to  entice  "  greeny"  into  her  net,  and  before  long  will  be  counting 
the  amount  of  his  cash,  while  he,  her  dupe,  will  be,  too  late,  reflect- 
ing upon  the  depravity  of  pretty  waiter  girls.  By  this  time  the  sa- 
loon is  crowded  with  men  and  women  of  all  degrees  of  social 
standing.  Here  is  the  man  about  town,  the  hanger-round  of  the  ho- 
tels, in  clothes  of  unexceptionable  cut  and  make,  talking  earnestly 
with  a  female,  whose  drawn  veil  conceals  her  face ;  perhaps  some 
unfortunate  victim  of  his  lust,  or  probably  his  mistress,  came  to 
plead  for  justice,  or  for  her  week's  allowance  of  money.  Yonder  i3 
a  youth  of,  as  Sylvanus  Cobb,  Jr.,  would  say,  "  some  eighteen  sum- 
mers," young  in  years,  but  old  in  sin,  who  supports  on  his  knee  a 
nymph  du  pave,  with  whom  he  has  entered  from  the  street,  and  upon 
whom  he  is  spending  his  last  quarter's  salary,  or  the  proceeds  of 
an  investigation  into  the  till  of  his  employer.  In  that  corner  is  the 
returned  soldier,  who  has  just  been  paid  off,  and  who  is  now  ex- 
pending the  hard  earned  pittance  of  the  Government  upon  some  be- 
painted  and  bedizened  courtesan,  while  perhaps  his  wife  and  family 


CONCERT  SALOONS — THEIR  INMATES.  &1 

are  suffering  for  want  of  the  common  necessaries  of  life.  A  cry  of 
pain,  followel  by  a  burst  of  brutal  laughter,  causes  us  to  turn  our 
eyes  to  the  corner  just  in  time  to  witness  a  woman  fall  to  the  ground 
felled  by  a  blow  from  the  clenched  fist  of  the  brute  with  whom  she 
has  been  quarrelling.  A  moment,  there  is  silence  in  the  hall ;  but 
only  for  a  moment  j  the  girl  is  picked  up  by  one  of  her  compa- 
nions, a  few  rough  jokes  at  her  expense,  and  all  goes  on  as  before. 
Such  scenes  are  of  too  frequent  occurrence  to  provoke  comment. 
Observe  that  couple  descending  the  steps  j  a  handsome,  almost  no- 
ble loo  ing  man.  but  upon  whose  countenance  is  stamped  the  mark 
of  a  dissolute  life ;  upon  his  arm  a  female,  her  face  hidden  from 
view  by  a  dark  veil.  They  advance  to  the  bar  ;  the  gentleman 
whispers  a  word  in  the  ear  of  one  of  the  girls  j  a  meaning  smile 
flic  .er3  over  her  face  as  she  hands  him  a  key,  with  which  he  opens 
a  door  in  the  end  of  the  room  and  disappears  with  the  female. 
Reader,  you  have  seen  half  a  dozen  similar  couples  arrive  and  vanish 
through  the  same  door ;  do  you  know  the  why  and  wherefore  of 
this  proceeding  ?  Madame  B.'s  saloon  is  one  of  the  most  notorious 
asK'gwition  kotmt*  in  New  York.  We  might  go  on  and  notice  more 
fully  the  various  personages  and  scenes  constantly  varying  in  this 
house,  but  we  have  neither  space  or  time  at  present ;  besides  the 
tas1;  is  not  an  agreeable  one.  So  let  us  leave  the  murky  atmosphere 
of  the  "  crib,"  and  once  more  breathe  the  pure  air  of  lleaven. 

The  u  music  halls"  of  Chatham  street,  the  Bowery,  and  Green- 
wich and  other  streets  are  little  better  than  brothels  ;  their  proprie- 
tors and  u  runners"  are  scoundrels  of  the  deepest  dye — always  ready 
to  pouuce  upon  whatever  prey  fortune  may  throw  in  their  way. 
Were  but  the  crimes  committed  in  these  places  even  in  a  single 
night  made  public,  they  would  present  a  list  frightful  to  behold. 
Scores  of  men  that  have  "  disappeared"  have  been  traced  to  these 
concert  saloons — where  the  inference  is  that  they  have  been  drugged, 
murdered,  and  then  robbed  ;  their  bodies  thrown  into  the  river,  to 
be  "  found  drowned" — with  finally  a  "  corporation"  burial.  And 
as  for  the  poor  girls  drawn  by  force  or  intrigue  into  these  moral  cess 
pools,  their  fate  is  worse  than  death  itself,  and  too  horrible  to  dwell 
upon. 

Steer  clear  of  these  quicksands  and  whirlpools,  young  man,  or 
young  woman,  if  you  would  avoid  the  shipwreck  of  your  reputa  ion, 
virtue,  and  perhaps  life.  Yield  to  no  temptation  to  enter  a  concert 
saloon— no  matter  what  the  circumstances— and  if  your  resistance 
avails,  you  will  have  escaped  one  of  'he  greatest,  if  not  the  greatest, 
of  the  many  perils  with  which  the  metropolis  abounds. 

Young  men — young  women — on  no  account,  under  no  circum- 
stances, enter  one  of  these  concert  saloons!  Shun  them  as  you 
would  a  pestilence,  for  they  are  but  the  gates  of  death,  the  highway 
to  moral  annihilation ! 

The  following  resolution  (showing  that  we  are  fully  justified  in 
the  preceding  remarks)  was  offered  at  a  recent  meeting  of  the  Com- 
mon Council  of  this  city.  It  is  doubtful,  however,  whether  the 
saloons  will  be  suppressed  by  law,  and  they  will  probably  continue 


62 


ROGUERIES  OF  NEW  YORK. 


to  offend  public  decency  as  long  as  people  can  be  found  to  patron- 
ize them : 

By  Alderman  O'ftrien — 

MTiereas  The  establishment  of  "  concert  saloons"  in  this  city  is  a 
serious  evil,  and  tends  in  a  marked  manner  to  the  increase  of  im- 
m  Tality  and  crime,  as  they  are  frequented  and  patronized  by  the 
lowest,  "most  degraded  and  abandoned  characters,  thereby  rendering 
it  positively  dangerous  to  reside  in  their  vicinity,  as  well  'as  being  a 
positive  annoyance  to  every  well  disposed  o  tizen  haying  occasion  to 
pass  them  particularly  if  compelled  to  do  so,  as  is  frequently  the 
case,  at  a  late  hour  in  the  evening ;  and  as  their  number  is  now  fear- 
fully on  the  increase,  and  the  annoyance  is  growing  to  be  insuffer- 
able,  be  it 

Resolved,  That  the  Commissioners  of  Police  for  the  Metropolitan 
Police  District  be,  and  tbey  are  hereby,  requested  to  take  such  de- 
cided steps  as  will  remedy  the  evil,  by  causing  the  "  concert  saloons'' 
to  be  abated  as  public  nuisances,  tending  to  the  destruction  of  public 
morality ;  or  if  that  cannot  be  legally  effected,  then  they  will  take 
such  measures,  by  establishing  a  strict  police  surveillance  over  such 
*•  saloons/'  as  will  prevent  them  from  continuing  to  be  what  they 
now  most  assuredly  are,  offensive  in  the  highest  degree  to  public 
decency. 

Which  was  adopted  by  the  following  vote  : 

Affirmative— Aldermen  Flynn,  Gedney,  Ryers,  Brice,  Masterson, 
Ottiwell,  0  Brien,  Farlt-y  and  Van  Voorhis— 9- 
Negative— Aldermen  Moore,  Aorton,  Shannon  and  McKnight — i. 


CHAPTER  XIV. 

THE  SOCIAL  EVIL,  PROCURESSES,  ETC. 

Volume  upon  volume,  aye,  whole  libraries,  have  been  written 
upon  the  origin,  progress,  and  prevention  of  the  great  "  social  evil" 
in  large  cities,  but  with  what  good  result  ?  To-day,  in  New  York 
alone,  within  the  shadows  of  hundreds  of  church  spires,  and  beneath 
the  sound  of  numberless  Sabbath  bells,  there  are,  it  is  computed, 
between  thirty  and  thirty-five  thousand  lost  women  ! 

Just  think  of  it  for  a  moment,  and  then  imagine  the  amount  of 
human  misery— physical  and  mental  suffering  — compassed,  as  it 
were,  into  the  daily  lives  of  the  members  (individually  and  collec- 
tively) of  this  great  sisterhood  of  shame !  But  we  have  not  the 
heart  to  moralize  upon  this  subject :  we  are  dealing  with  facts  and 
things  as  they  are,  not  in  flights  of  fancy  or  things  as  they  should  be. 

The  average  life  of  a  courtesan  is  from  three  to  five  years,  seldom 
beyond ;  consequently  it  follows  that  within  that  space,  this  vast 
army  has  to  be  racruited  and  replenished,  to  be  constantly  renewed, 
in  short.  Disease,  suffering,  and  premature  death,  make  sad  havoc 
in  the  ranks  ;  the  gaps  must  be  filled  up,  and  all  means  are  resorted 
to  to  accomplish  that  end. 


THE  SOCIAL  EVIL,  PROCURESSES,  ETC.  63 


It  is  safe  to  assume  that  no  woman  voluntarily,  of  her  own  free 
will,  adopts  deliberately  the  life  of  a  courtesan— surrenders  her 
honor,  that  priceless  jewel  of  the  sex,  for  the  sole  purpose  of  wan- 
tonness or  profit.  There  may  be  cases  where  inborn  depravity 
overcomes  the  natural  feelings  of  virtue  ;  but  they  are  the  excep- 
tion, not  by  any  means  the  rule  5  then  how  and  where  are  so  many 
ministers  to  man's  rapacious  passions  procured  ?  The  answer  is  a 
read)  one — through  the  designing  arts  and  wiles  of  regular  pruccj- 
ueks  and  procukesses,  whose  whole  business  is  to  entrap  the  unsus- 
pecting, ruin  the  innocent,  and  pander  to  the  vile  appedtes  of  de- 
based and  sensual  men. 

"  A  woman  lost  to  virtue  is  a  fiend  indeed."  Once  the  fatal  Ru- 
bicon is  passed,  downwards,  rapidly  downwards,  is  her  progress, 
intil  the  lowest  depths  of  sin  and  crime  are  reached.  This  must  be 
realized  to  understand  how  one  woman  can  deliberately  plot  and 
plan  the  ruin  of  another  solely  for  personal  gratification  or  gain. 

Procuresses  are  confined  to  no  condition  of  life,  nor  to  any  stage 
of  society  ;  they  are  to  be  found  moving  in  our  "  first  circles,"  and 

f dying  their  trade  in  the  gilded  mansions  of  the  rich  as  well  as  wa.- 
aying  the  daughters  ot  the  poor,  or  seducing,  by  their  blandish- 
ments, the  unsuspecting  children  of  poverty.  With  the  middle  classes 
of  the  community,  so  to  speak,  however — sewing  girls,  girls  from 
the  country,  emigrants  from  abroad,  and  unprotected  strangers  gene- 
rally, are  their  principal  dealings.  Hundreds  of  the  former,  by  neo-s- 
sity  —  the  prospect  of  actual  starvation  in  many  instances— are  forced 
or  persuaded,  year  after  year,  to  leap  into  the  vortex  which  swal- 
lows up  all  alike,  and  from  whose  capacious  maw  there  is  no  rescue  ; 
while  others,  by  specious  promises,  by  false  protestations  and  damn 
able  intrigues,  are  led  into  the  same  fatal  snare.  These  abandoned 
women  are  aided  in  their  schemes  and  tricks  by  the  low  cunning  of 
villains  of  the  opposite  sex,  who,  working  in  unison  with  them,  sys- 
tematically entrap,  by  a  regular  course  of  proceeding,  seduce,  and 
forever  ruin  their  unsuspecting  prey.  Personal  appearance  and 
suavity  of  manner,  with  a  tongue  smooth  and  slippery  as  an  adder's, 
it  is  not  difficult  for  one  of  them  to  attract  the  ilotice,  form  the  ac- 
quaintance, and  eventually  destroy  the  character  of  her  who  is  fool- 
ish or  confident  enough  to  trust  to  his  protestations  or  pretensions. 

A  little  circumstance  that  befell  a  gentleman  of  Brooklyn  lately, 
cannot  fail  to  be  of  interest  here.  Mr.  L.  is  a  gentleman  whose  busi- 
ness detains  him  until  a  late  hour  at  night.  Returning  from  the 
office,  (in  William  street,  New  York,)  when  near  Fulton  Ferry,  he 
was  accosted  by  a  female  closely  veiled,  who  desired  him  to  accom- 
pany her  "  home."  I'erceiving  at  a  glance  that  she  was,  as  General 
Bu'ler  has  it,  "  a  woman  of  the  town,  plying  her  vocation,"  his  first 
impulse  was  to  shake  her  off,  and  bid  her  begone  ;  but  something 
in  the  tone  of  her  voice  prevented,  and  he  entered  into  conversation 
with  her.  Raising  her  veil,  L.  perceived  in  her  face  marked  traces 
of  early  beauty,  now  nearly  obliterated  by  the  effects  of  dissipation, 
while  her  language  was  couched  in  terms  that  gave  evidence  of 
once  careful  culture  and  refinement  Being  something  of  a  philan- 
thropist by  the  way,  he  interrogated  the  girl  in  a  kind  and  fatherly 


64 


ROGUERIES  OF  NEW  YORK. 


manner  as  to  the  reason  for  her  course  of  life.  The  only  reply  was, 
to  his  surprise,  a  burst  of  tears,  instead  of  the  brazen  answer  par- 
tially expected. 

"Come  with  me,  you  child,"  said  our  friend,  and  taking  the  un- 
resisting arm  of  the  unfortunate  within  his  own,  he  retraced  his 
steps  to  his  office.  Calling  up  his  man  Thomas,  who  had  retired  for 
the  night,  he  ordered  him  to  bring  refreshments  from  a  neighboring 
saloon,  of  which  he  induced  the  girl  to  partake. 

"  Now  let  me  know  how  one  so  young  has  been  induced  to  lead 
such  a  shameful  life." 

'J  Oh,  sir,  God  bless  you  for  your  kindness.  It  is  but  a  short  story, 
and  one  that  will  not  interest  you.  My  name  is  Henrietta  Long  ; 
my  father,  who  was  quite  wealthy,  lived  at  Stamford,  Connecticut, 
at  which  place  he  conducted  a  large  and  flourishing  business.  An 
only  child,  and  motherless — my  mother  died  when  I  was  but  six 
years  old — I  was  the  recipient  of  every  care  and  attention.  I  never 
knew  what  it  was  to  want  for  anything.  Two  years  ago  my  father 
died  suddenly  ;  the  loss  was  a  heavy  one  to  me,  more  especially 
when  it  became  apparent  that  he  had  left  me  almost  penniless,  his 
affairs  having  become  greatly  involved.  I  had  no  relatives,  and  but 
few  friends,  so  1  was  forced  to  earn  a  scanty  livelihood  by  wording 
in  a  factory  at  Norwalk,  whither  I  proceeded.  Toiling  day  and 
night  for  just  enough  to  keep  body  and  soul  together,  I  soon  be- 
came dissatisfied,  and  resolved  to  go  to  New  Yorli,  where  I  had  heard 
it  was  easy  to  obtain  a  decent  living.  In  a  day  or  two  I  arrived 
here,  friendless  and  almost  penniless ;  no  one  to  advise  me,  no  one 
to  warn  me  of  the  temptations  that  surrounded  me  on  every  side. 
I  was  soon,  unknown  to  myself,  on  the  broad  road  to  destruction. 
Standing  on  the  pier  soon  after  leaving  the  boat,  I  was  accosted  by 
a  demon  in  the  guise  of  a  woman,  who  pretending  to  take  an  inte- 
rest in  me,  invited  me  to  her  house,  there  to  remain  until  I  could 
determine  what  to  do. 

"  With  soft  words  and  honeyed  speech,  I  was  induced  to  accompa- 
ny her  to  her  house,  and  there— well,  it  is  the  old  story,  sir.  You 
can  imagine  the  rest ;  but  I  did  not  fall  without  a  struggle.  Day 
after  day  1  resisted  the  temptations  set  before  me,  but  in  vain. 
Twice  I  endeavored  to  leave  the  house,  but  without  success.  Vio- 
lence accomplished  what  entreaty  and  threats  could  not.  One  night 
after  I  had  sobbed  myself  to  sleep,  my  room  was  entered  by  the 
hostess  accompanied  by  a  man,  and  ere  I  could  help  myself  I  found 
myself  a  vile,  dishonored  thing— such  as  lam  now." 

L.  listened  with  the  utmost  interest  to  the  sad  recital,  and  when 
it  was  finished,  implored  the  hapless  narrator  to  abandon  her  dis- 
graceful calling,  but  without  success. 

"  What  hope  is  there  for  me— I  am  lost,  body  and  soul !"  was  her 
exclamation  ;  "  but  God  bless  you  once  again,  sir,"  and  she  was 
gone.  L.  followed  her,  but  ere  he  reached  the  street,  she  had  va- 
nished in  the  darkness  of  the  night.    He  never  saw  her  again. 

The  above  is  no  over-drawn  sketch ;  it  is  not  exaggerated,  but 
falls  short  .  of  'eit-aUty.  Not  three  months  ago,  in  the  —  Dis- 
trict Po&,o  -ouri,    wu  known  procuress  keeping  a  place  known 


THE  SOCIAL  EVIL,  PROCURESSES,  ETC.  65 


as  "  Annie's  Saloon,"  in  Greene  street,  between  Houston  and 
Bleecker,  was  arrested  on  complaint  of  one  of  her  intended  victims, 
whp  managed  to  effect  her  escape  from  her  den.  The  story  by  the 
girl  is  substantiated  by  affidavits.  A  stranger  in  New  York,  she  was 
engaged  by  Miss  "  Annie"  as  a  seamstress,  taken  to  her  house,  and 
there  treated  in  the  most  barbarous  manner  because  of  her  refusal 
to  bargain  her  honor  for  gold.  Her  private  apartment  was  violated 
at  all  hours,  and  entreaties — and,  when  they  tailed,  threats  -  lavish- 
ed upon  her.  But  in  vain  ;  the  girl  was  determined  to  preserve  her 
honor.  Twice  she  endeavored  to  leave  the  premises  ;  bat  each 
attempt  to  escape  was  frustrated.  At  last,  through  the  assistance 
of  a  ge  ,  I  man  we  use  the  term  for  want  of  a  better— who  was  in 
the  habit  of  visiting  the  place,  she  obtained  her  liberty.  Touched 
by  her  beaoty  and  innocence,  he  demanded  that  she  should  accom- 
pany him  from  the  house.  This  permission  Miss  Annie  refused,  and 
he  had  actually  to  force  his  way  to  the  street  with  his  companion  — 
the  virago  standing  knife  in  hand  to  bar  his  passage !  The  woman 
was  subsequently  arrested  for  detaining  the  girl's  trunk.  With  tho 
utmost  brazenness  she  insisted  that  that  article,  with  its  contents,  be- 
longed to  her,  and  had  been  loaned  to  her  «  boarder,"  as  she  called 
the  owner. 

But  it  is  not  in  the  cities  alone  that  these  bloated  spiders  spin 
their  webs  and  twine  their  nets.  Their  operations  are  extended  to 
the  country,  as  rich  "  widows,"  "  sea-captain's  wives,"  etc.  Aided 
by  their  male  pimps  and  confederates,  with  specious  promises  and 
dissembling  arts,  they  unfailingly  secure  their  prey  from  among  the 
inexperienced  daughters  and  sisters  of  moral  society. 

PANEL  GAME,  ETC. 

The  man  who  seeks  or  accepts  the  company  o"  depraved  women, 
at  once  exposes  himself  to  every  species  of  rob  jery,  as  well  as  the 
moral  degradation  and  physical  ills.  No  matter  how  specious  ap- 
pearances may  be,  robbery  of  some  kind  is  almost  sure  to  follow 
any  association  of  the  kiud  spoken  of.  Not  one  case  in  a  hundred 
is  reported  to  the  police,  for  the  victim  is  very  properly  too  much 
ashamed  of  the  circumstances  under  which  he  has  been  plundered 
ever  to  make  the  circumstances  known.  Yet  a  sufficient  number  of 
cases  come  before  the  police  to  enable  them,  not  only  to  know  the 
modus  operandi  of  every  kind  of  thieving,  but  even  a  personal  know- 
ledge of  the  principal  operators. 

The  Panel  Game,  as  it  is  technically  called,  is  practiced  only 
upon  those  who  seek  the  degrading  companionship  of  lost  women. 
A  movable  panel  in  the  wall  or  partition  of  a  room,  concealed  by  a 
picture  frame  or  something  similar,  enables  a  confederate  to  rob 
without  entering  the  room.  Should  the  plundered  party  discover 
his  loss  before  leaving  the  place,  he  does  not  know  who  to  ac- 
cuse, he  has  neither  seen  nor  heard  any  one  enter.  'I  he  door  i3 
locked — nothing  is  disarranged.  He  is  confused,  and  uncertain. 
Should  he  suspect  any  trick  which  he  knows  not  how  to  fathom,  he 
thinks  of  the  police.  Then  he  is  overwhelmed  with  shame  at  the 
situation  in  which  he  is  found.   Sometimes  he  overcomes  this  feeling 


GO 


ROGUERIES  OP  NEW  YORK. 


and  informs  the  police,  who  in  one  iase  in  five,  perhaps,  may  suc- 
ceed in  recovering  his  money  ;  and  the  public  is  regaled  with  the 
name  and  adventures  of  the  man.  But  in  most  cases  the  victim 
bears  his  grief  in  silence. 

Of  the  o:her  tricks  and  traps  adopted  among  these  forlorn  women 
we  will  not  here  speak.  If  not  always  thieves  or  pickpockets  them- 
selves, their  male  companions  almost  invariably  are,  and  their 
crimes  are  treated  in  another  place. 


CHAPTER  XV. 

HACK  MEN  AND  THEIR  IMPOSITIONS. 

"  Astor  Housf  f  "  St,  Nicholas  "  New  York  ff  "  Ride  right 
up  f  u  this  way,  -sir,"  and  a  thousand  and  one  similar  cries 
greet  the  traveller  on  his  arrival  in  New  York,  while  countless 
hands  seize  his  baggage  and  countless  whips  are  thrust  into  his 
face  by  way  of  adding  emphasis  to  these  vociferated  exclamations. 
"  Running  the  gauntlet,"  in  Indian  fashion,  is  nothing  to  dodging 
the  hackmen  that  surround  the  railroad  and  steamboat  depots,  in- 
tent upon  a  "  fare,"  as  a  passenger  is  technically  designated.  Un- 
happy is  the  unfortunate  wight  who,  unsuspicious  of  danger,  falls 
into  the  clutches  of  these  modern  Jehus.  They  know  no  pity  j  have 
no  spark  of  humanity  within  their  callous  bosoms  ;  regarding  the 
traveling  community  as  their  lawful  prey,  they  are  ever  on  the  alert 
to,  vi  et  armis,  possess  the  corpus  of  whomsoever  designing  fate  may 
be  uncharitable  enough  to  throw  in  their  path  ;  and  once  seated  in 
their  vehicles,  "abandon  hope  '  unless  your  courage  is  great  and 
your  wallet  well  lined — for  you  will  need  the  former  to  stand  their 
impertinence,  and  the  latter  to  meet  their  exorbitant  demands. 

To  avoid  the  toils  and  snares  of  these  carriage  drivers  is,  how- 
ever, an  easy  matter  for  those  that  are  accustomed  to  visit  the  city 
on  pleasure  or  business.  All  they  have  to  do  is  to  get  into  the 
coach  with  the  name  of  the  hotel  upon  it  to  which  they  want  to  go, 
then  they  are  sufe ;  but  it  is  not  every  one  that  knows  this  fact,  or 
that  can  put  up  at  a  hotel,  and  it  is  for  this  class  that  these  papers 
are  mostly  written. 

Second  and  third-rate  hotels  do  not  keep  their  own  coaches,  and 
guests  have  to  find  their  own  conveyances  or  walk  thither,  hiring 
some  one  to  carry  their  baggage  if  it  is  light.  This  is,  perhaps, 
the  safest  way  for  those  acquainted  with  the  city ;  but  those  who 
are  unfamiliar  with  localities  and  streets  are  generally  forced,  by 
necessity,  to  trust  to  the  tender  mercies  of  hackmen. 

Extortion  is  the  great  fall  back  of  the  u  cabby."  Some  days  he 
stands  on  his  corner  or  near  the  "  depot"  from  early  in  the  morning 
until  late  at  night  without  a  fare  ;  this  is  a  day  lost ;  but  he  is  not 
the  kind  of  individual  to  repine  at  this  ;  he  calmly  awaits  Ms  first 


HACKMEN  AND  TTTEIR  IMPOSITIONS. 


67 


passenger,  who  arrives  perhaps  by  the  night  train  from  Washington 
or  Boston,  and  is  in  a  harry  to  get;  to  his  hotel,  and  coolly  charges 
him  enough  for  his  services  to  reimburse  him  for  want  of  patronage 
during  the  day. 

Who  has  not  heard  the  story  of  Jonathan,  who  received  a  check  for 
his  baggage  on  the  train  which  brought  him  "  to  town,"  and  gave  it 
to  the  hackman  in  payment  for  a  ride  ;  and  how  the  latter  secured 
verdant's  baggage  in  spite  of  the  latter's  indignant  and  forcible  pro- 
testations. This  is  an  apt  illustration  of  the  esprit  of  the  New  York 
hackraen. 

Numbers  of  these  coach  drivers  are  employed  as  runners  for 
boarding  houses  and  bogus  hotels,  and  it  is  in  this  view,  rather  than 
in  the  light  of  extortion,  that  they  are  to  be  regarded.  It  is  their 
interest  to  procure  customers  for  other  rogues,  no  less  rascally  than 
thememselves,  but  who  employ  other  means  to  defraud  the  unsus- 
pecting. The  adventure  of  a  young  gentleman  from  the  interior  of 
Long  Island  has  a  bearing  on  this  point.  Innocent  as  a  lamb,  and 
unsophisticated  as  a  three  months'  old  babe,  John — no  use  in  giving 
his  sirname— came  up  to  M  York"  on  business.  Not  being  very  well 
off  in  this  world's  goods,  and  possessing  but  little  cash,  it  was  of 
course  his  aim  to  u  use  that  little  well,"  and  make  it  go  as  far  as  it 
could.  Economy  he  was  obliged  from  necessity  to  consider,  and 
what  could  be  a  better  way  of  practicing  it  than  in  going  to  a  cheap 
hotel.  He  signified  his  intention  to  a  hackman,  who  at  once  t  rust 
him  into  his  vehicle,  swung  his  valLse  in  after  him,  and  forthwith 
was  off  at  a  smart  pace.  Drawing  up  in  front  of  a  tumble-down 
house  in  the  lower  part  of  Greenwich  street,  he  assisted  his  passen- 
ger to  alight,  demanded  a  dollar,  gave  up  his  valise,  and  pointing 

to  the  building,  said  u  there's  the  hotel ;  the  proprietor  is  a 

friend  of  mine.  Just  say  I  sent  you,  will  yon  ?"  and  mounting  hi3 
box  was  off.  Entering  the  barroom  of  the  place,  John  was  not  very 
favorably  impressed  with  the  general  appearance  of  the  room  and 
its  inmates.  A  dirty,  smoky  apartment,  tilled  with  men,  apparently 
sailors,  seated  at  tables,  drinking,  cursing  and  swearing,  made  our 
friend  conclude  that  he  had  got  into  the  wrong  box ;  and  he  was 
about  to  beat  a  retreat,  when  he  was  accosted  by  the  proprietor,  an 
ill-favored  man,  in  his  shirt  sleeves,  who  "wanted  to  know  his 
business." 

"  Is  this  the  Hotel  ?"  asked  John. 

u  It  is,  indeed  ;  do  you  want  a  room— come  this  way  ;"  and  before 
John  coul  1  utter  another  word  he  found  himself  following  the 
"  hotel"  keeper  up  a  narrow  staircase  to  a  room  above — six  by  nine, 
with  a  small  trunk  in  one  corner,  »  broken-down  washstand,  and  a 
dilapidated  stool.  John  confessed  to  himself  that  such  accommoda- 
tions must  be  cheap  indeed,  and  that  by  a  little  temporary  inconveni- 
ence he  should  be  able  to  save  a  little  more  money  than  if  he  had 
gone  to  a  better  furnished  or  more  comfortable  hotel.  In  the 
morning,  on  stepping  up  to  the  "  bar"  to  "  settle,"  what  was  his 
surprise  and  indignation  at  receiving  a  bill,  in  wretched  chiro- 
graphy  and  execrable  English,  footing  up  the  modest  sum  of  eleven 
dollars  and  seventy-five  cents ! 


68 


ROGUERIES  OF  NEW  YORK. 


"  There  must  be  some  mistake  here,"  (to  the  proprietor  of  the 

"hotel.") 

"  We  never  make  mistakes  here,  sir ;  the  bill  is  correct"-  and 
taking  it  he  read  off  the  items  as  follows  : — 


"But  I  paid  my  hack  hire— and  besides,  I  had  no  supper  last 
night." 

"  I  know  nothing  about  what  you  say  ;  how  do  I  know  you  paid 
your  1  coachman  and  the  supper  was  cooked  for  you  if  you  did  not 
eat  it." 

By  this  time  the  indignant  "  guest"  was  surrounded  by  quite  a 
large  crowd  of  the  hangers  on  around  the  premises,  and,  fearful  of 
getting  into  serious  difficulty,  he  produced  the  money  from  his 
scantily  furnished  purse,  counted  out  the  amount,  and,  taking  his 
baggage,  departed. 

Suppose  our  Long  Island  friend  had  refused  to  accede  to  the 
exorbitant  charges  demanded?  Well,  his  baggage  would  have 
been  seized  and  held,  and  he  might  have  considered  himself  fortu- 
nate to  have  got  off  without  suffering  personal  violence. 

Young  girls  are  favorite  victims  of  hackmen,  many  of  the  latter 
being  in  the  employ  of  the  keeper  of  brothels  or  assignation  houses. 
Under  pretence  of  taking  them  to  boarding  houses,  or  respectable 
"  houses  of  entertainment,"  they  readily  entrap  their  innocent  dupes 
into  ruin,  and  eventually  lives  of  shame. 

The  Chicago  Journal,  a  short  time  since,  contained  an  account  of 
the  mysterious  disappearance  of  a  young  lady  of  that  city  who  had 
set  out  for  New  York  to  visit  a  relative.  Day  after  day  passing,  and 
nothing  being  beard  from  her,  her  parents  became  alarmed,  and  te- 
legraphing to  New  York,  inquired  of  the  relative  in  question  if 
Henrietta  had  reached  her  destination.  A  response  announced  the 
startling  fact  that  she  had  not,  but  that  her  visit  was  anxiously 
awaited.  A  brother  of  the  young  lady,  in  company  with  a  detective, 
at  once  started  East,  and  on  reaching  the  metropolis  at  once  sought 
traces  of  the  missing  girl.  Their  search  for  a  time  was  fruitless, 
but  with  the  assistance  of  a  detective  from  the  City  Hall  office,  they 
soon  got  upon  her  track  ;  they  discovered  the  hackman  into  whose 
vehicle  she  had  got  upon  leaving  the  cars.  The  f  ellow  at  first  round- 
ly denied  knowing  anything  about  her  ;  but  threats  of  the  Tombs 
soon  brought  him  to  his  senses,  and  he  at  once  "  owned  up,"  and 
conducted  the  anxious  brother  to  the-  house  where  he  had  conveyed 
the  missing  girl,  a  rendezvous  for  notorious  characters  of  both  sexes. 
Henrietta,  after  many  evasions  on  the  part  of  the  mistress  of  the 
establishment,  was  brought  into  the  room  where  her  brother  was, 
her  virtue  happily  preserved,  and  her  maiden  honor  unblightedl 
Her  story  was  a  brief  one  :  she  reached  New  York  at  midnight,  en- 


nack  hire 
Supper . . 
Lodging  . 
Breakfast 


$2  00 
..3  00 
.  .3  00 
..3  75 


$11  75 


See  Page  60. 


70 


ROGUERIES  OP  NEW  YORK. 


tered  a  hack,  giving  the  residence  of  her  relative ;  after  a  long  ride, 
the  coach  drove  up  in  front  of  the  house  from  which  she  had  been 
taken.  Unsuspectingly,  she  entered,  never  having  visited  her  rela- 
tive before,  and,  when  too  late,  found  she  had  been  entrapped. 
Firmly  resisting  the  many  endeavors,  entreaties,  as  well  as  threats, 
to  surrender  her  honor,  she  had  been  confined  in  her  room  and  for- 
cibly prevented  from  leaving  its  limits.  What  her  fate  eventually 
would  have  been  there  is  but  little  doubt,  for  she  must  before  long 
have  succumbed  to  the  persecutions  of  her  jailors. 

We  give  below  Article  IIL  of  the  ordinance  relating  to  hac'<men, 
which  will  be  found  useful  for  reference,  not  only  by  strangers,  but 
in  many  instances  by  residents  of  the  city.  The  ordinance  also  re- 
quires that  the  number  of  the  owner's  license  shall  be  conspicuously 
displayed  on  the  hack  or  carriage,  and  that  the  name  and  residence 
of  the  owner  shall  be  given  if  requested  by  the  passenger.  Should 
any  attempt  at  extortion  be  made,  all  that  is  required  is  to  firmly 
insist  on  your  rights,  and  if  necessary,  to  enter  a  complaint  at  the 
Mayor's  office  of  any  violation  of  the  ordinance.  We  call  especial 
attention  to  section  24,  by  which  it  will  be  seen  that,  should  the 
driver  demand  more  than  his  legal  fare,  he  loses  his  claim  to  any 
remuneration.  Strangers  can  always  obtain  any  desired  information 
and  assistance  from  any  policeman  : 

ARTICLE  m. 

§  21.  The  prices  or  rates  of  fares  to  be  taken  by,  or  paid  to,  the 
ow  ners  or  drivers  of  hackney  coaches  or  carriages,  shall  be  as  fol- 
lows, to  wit : 

1.  For  conveying  a  passenger  any  distance  not  exceeding  one  mile, 
fifty  cents ;  for'conveying  two  passengers  the  same  distance,  seventy- 
five  cents,  or  thirty -seven  and  a  half  cents  each  ;  and  for  every  addi- 
tional passenger,  thirty-seven  and  a  half  cents. 

2.  For  conveying  a  passenger  any  distance  exceeding  a  mile,  and 
within  two  miles,  seventy-five  cents ;  and  lor  every  additional  pas- 
senger, thirty-seven  and  a  half  cents. 

3.  For  conveying  a  passenger  to  the  new  Almshouse  and  return- 
ing, one  dollar ;  and  for  every  additional  passenger,  and  returning, 
fifty  cents. 

4.  For  conveying  one  passenger  to  Fortieth  street,  and  remaining 
half  an  hour,  and  returning,  one  dollar  and  a  half;  and  lor  every 
additional  passenger,  fifty  cents. 

6.  For  conveying  one  passenger  to  Sixty-first  street  and  remaining 
three-quarters  of  an  hour,  and  returning,  two  dollars ;  and  for  every 
additional  passenger,  fifty  cents. 

6.  For  conveying  one  passenger  to  Eighty-sixth  street,  and  remain- 
ing one  hour,  and  returning,  two  dollars  and  a  half;  and  for  every 
additional  passenger,  seventy-five  cents. 

7.  For  conveying  one  or  more  passengers  to  Harlem,  and  return- 
ing, with  the  privilege  or  remaining  three  hours,  five  dollars;  or  to 
the  High  Bridge,  five  dollars,  with  the  same  privilege. 

3.  For  conveying  one  or  more  passengers  to  King's  Bridge,  and 


QUACKS  AND  MEDICAL  HUMBUGS.  71 

returning,  with  the  privilege  of  keeping  the  carriage  all  day,  five 
dollars. 

9.  For  the  use  of  a  hackney  coach  or  carriage  by  the  day,  with 
one  or  more  passengers,  five  dollars. 

10.  For  the  use  of  a  hackney  coach  or  carriage  by  the  hour,  with 
one  or  more  passengers,  with  the  pivilege  of  going  from  place  to 
place,  and  stopping  as  oJten  as  may  be  required,  one  dollar  an  hour. 

11.  In  all  oases  where  the  hiring  of  a  hackney  coach  or  carriage 
is  not,  at  the  time  thereof,  specified  to  be  by  the  day  or  hour,  it 
shall  be  deemed  by  the  mile. 

12.  For  children  betw  een  two  and  fourteen  years  of  age,  half  price 
is  only  to  be  charged;  and  for  children  under  two  years  of  age,  no 
charge  is  to  be  made. 

13.  Whenever  a  hackney  coach  or  carriage  shall  be  detained,  ex- 
cepting as  aforesaid,  the  owner  or  driver  sball  be  allowed  after  the 
rate  of  seventy-five  cents  an  hour. 

14.  For  attending  a  funeral  within  the  lamp  and  watch  district, 
two  dollais;  and  to  the  Pottersfield,  three  dollars;  which  charges 
shall  include  lor  the  necessary  detention  and  returning  with  passen- 
gers. 

15.  Every  driver  or  owner  of  a  hackney  coach,  carriage,  or  cab, 
shall  carry,  transport,  and  convey  in  a»d  upon  bis  coach,  carriage, 
or  cab,  iu  addition  to  the  person  or  persons  therein,  one  trunk, 
valise,  saddle-bag,  carpet-bag,  portmanteau,  or  box,  if  he  be  re- 
quested so  to  do,  for  each  passenger,  without  charge  or  compensa- 
tion therefor ;  but  for  every  trunk  or  such  other  articles  above 
named,  more  than  one  for  each  passenger,  he  shall  be  entitled  to 
demand  and  receive  the  sum  of  six  cents. 

§  22.  In  case  of  disagreement  as  to  distance  or  price,  the  same 
shall  be  determined  by  the  Mav  or. 

§  23.  The  owner  of  any  hackney  coach  or  carriage  shall  not  de- 
mand or  receive  any  pay  for  the  conveyance  of  any  passenger,  unless 
the  number  of  the  carriage,  and  the  rates  and  prices  of  fare,  shall  be 
fixed  and  placed  in  a  manner  herein  a  ter  directed  by  section  30  of 
this  chapter,  at  the  time  such  passenger  may  be  conveyed  in  such 
carriage. 

§  24.  TJie  owner  or  driver  of  any  hackney  coach  or  carriage,  shall  not 
be  entitled  to  receive  any  pay  from  any  person  from  whom  he  shall  have 
demanded  any  greater  price  or  rates  than  he  may  be  authorized  to  receive, 
as  aforesaid. 

§  26.  Upon  the  trial  of  any  cause  commenced  for  the  recovery  of 
any  of  the  aforesaid  prices  or  rates,  it  shall  be  incumbent  upon  the 
plaintiff  or  plainuffs  in  such  action,  to  prove  that  the  number  and 
prices  or  rates,  were  placed  and  fixed  in  pursuance  of  the  provisions 
of  this  chapter,  at  the  time  the  services  were  rendered  for  which 
the  suit  may  be  brought. 

§  26.  No  owner  or  driver  of  any  hackney  coach  or  carriage  in  the 
city  of  New  York,  shall  ask,  demand,  or  receive  any  larger  sum  than 
he  or  they  may  be  entitled  to  receive,  as  aforesaid,  under  the  penalty 
of  ten  dollars  for  each  such  offence,  to  be  sued  for  and  recovered 
from  the  owner  or  owners,  or  driver  of  any  such  hackney  coach  or 
carriage,  severally  and  respectively. 


72 


ROGUERIES  OF  NEW  YORK. 


CHAPTER  XVI. 

QUACKS  AND  MEDICAL  HUMBUGS. 

Of  all  the  varied  forms  in  which  humbug  and  rascality  appears, 
none  does  more  injury,  or  leads  to  more  misery,  than  the  operations 
of  the  self-styled  "  doctors,"  who  cluster  in  all  large  cities,  but  more 
especially  in  New  York.  A  story  is  told  of  a  quack  who,  in  days 
gone  by,  prepared  a  pill  which  he  assured  the  public  was  a  sure 
protection  against  earthquakes.  It  is  said  that  hundreds  of  persons 
swallowed  his  statements  and  the  pill  at  the  same  time,  and  that  he 
reaped  a  rich  harvest  from  his  credulous  dupes.  Perhaps  this 
scheme  for  raising  the  wind  might  not  work  equally  well  in  our  day  ; 
not  but  that  we  have  seen  many  statements  equally  absurd,  gotten 
up  by  modern  quacks  and  as  readily  gulped  down  by  the  modern 
public.  That  men  can  be  found  so  lost  to  all  feelings  of  humanity 
as  to  make  a  regular  trade  of  preying  upon  the  afflictions  and  suffer- 
ings of  their  fellow  creatures,  may  lower  our  estimation  of  human 
nature,  but  it  is,  nevertheless,  true.  Quack  doctors  are  usually  men 
of  little  or  no  education,  and  blessed  with  about  an  equal  supply  of 
conscience  and  honesty.  Individuals  of  this  class  have  been,  time 
and  again,  exposed,  and  the  public  warned  against  them  ;  yet  they 
still  flourish  and  draw  their  toils  around  new  victims  every  day. 
Very  many  persons  are  utterly  unable  to  distinguish  between 
quacks  and  respectable  practitioners,  and  editors  and  others  often 
receive  letters  of  inquiry  whether  this  or  that  doctor  is  reliable  or 
not,  from  those  who  may  have  been  cautioned  against  certain  ones  of 
the  craft,  but  are  unable  to  form  any  general  rule  to  judge  by.  To  all 
such  we  would  say  that  the  simplest,  surest  and  safest  test  is  what 
the  man  says  of  himself.  In  applying  this  test,  however,  one  pre- 
caution should  be  observed,  and  that  is,  the  more  he  blows  his  own 
trumpet  the  less  is  he  to  be  believed.  Respectable  physicians  never 
parade  themselves  before  the  public  through  advertisements  or 
circulars.  The  mere  announcement  of  where  he  may  be  found  is 
the  utmost  a  respectable  member  of  the  profession  will  venture  upon ; 
anything  beyond  this  may  be  safely  considered  so  much  evidence  of 
quackery,  and  the  longer  the  advertisement,  generally,  the  greater 
the  humbug. 

There  is  probably  no  reader  of  this  book  who  has  not,  at  some 
time  noticed  advertisements  in  various  journals,  headed  "  Howard 
Association,"  "  Benevolent  Association,"  "  Private  Diseases,"  "  Con- 
fessions of  an  Invalid,"  "Marriage  Guide,"  "Nervous  Debility," 
"  Manhood  Restored,"  "  Essence  of  Life,"  and  innumerable  similar 
notices.  These  are  all,  without  exception,  humbugs  and  swindles. 
The  plan  of  operation  is  essentially  the  same  with  all  Either 
through  curiosity  or  some  other  cause,  persons  are  induced  to  send 
for  the  pamphlets  or  books  issued  by  the  advertisers,  and  many 
thousands  of  copies  are  distributed,  gratuituously  or  at  a  very  low 
price,  throughout  the  country.   The  object  of  these  publications  is, 


QUACKS  AND  MEDICAL  HUMBUGS. 


73 


first,  to  pander  to  the  vitiated  curiosity  of  boys  and  youth,  not  only 
by  the  u  pictorial  illustrations  drawn  from  life,"  but  by  speciousness 
of  argument  and  reasoning  and  statements,  to  mislead  the  mind, 
inflame  the  immagination,  corrupt  the  heart,  and  eventually  degrade 
the  whole  character.  It  has  often  been  noticed  that  among  the 
students  who  attend  a  first  course  of  medical  lectures,  there  are  a 
large  number  who  imagine  themselves  the  victims  of  each  successive 
disease,  as  it  is  presented  in  course  by  the  lecturer.  And  any  person 
not  versed  in  medicine  can  scarcely  read  any  book  on  any*  disease, 
without  beginning  to  imagine  that  he  has  more  or  less  of  its  symp- 
toms. In  fact,  medical  biography  abounds  with  notices  of  the 
deaths  of  men  from  the  very  diseases,  the  successful  treatment  of 
which  made  them  famous ;  leaving  us  to  suppose  that  imagination 
has  something  to  do  in  causing,  or  at  least  in  aggravating,  some 
human  maladies.  It  is  not  surprising  then,  that  youths  in  their 
teens,  or  just  entering  manhood,  in  reading  a  treatise  strongly 
depicting  the  ultimate  effects  of  certain  symptoms,  alleged  to  be 
connected  with  certain  conditions  of  the  system,  should  run  riot  in 
their  fears,  and  throw  themselves  helplessly  into  the  hands  of 
those  who  seem  to  know  so  mucL  on  the  subject,  and  by  their 
own  accounts  have  had  such  remarkable  success  in  their  line. 
The  youth  in  his  fright  appeals  to  the  author  of  the  book  to  save 
him  from  the  impending  ruin  and  disgrace.  A  fee  is  extorted,  and 
remedies  are  sent ;  these  remedies  are  invariably  worthless,  and  in 
most  cases  injurious.  In  some  instances  there  can  be  no  doubt  that 
the  medicine  is  intentionally  calculated  to  aggravate  disease,  if  it 
already  exists,  or  to  induce  it  if  it  does  not  exist  j  whatever  may  be 
his  real  condition,  the  patient  is  made  to  believe  that  the  reason  the 
remedies  do  not  have  the  desired  effect  is  that  his  case  is  more  des- 
perate than  was  supposed,  and  that  more  powerful  and  more  ex- 
pensive medicines  must  be  used.  These  are  procured,  and  weeks 
and  months  are  passed  in  fruitless  experiments.  As  time  goes  by 
the  victim  gives  way  more  and  n  ore  to  dispair,  and  having  ex- 
hausted all  the  money  he  can  procure,  he  is  plainly  told  by  the 
sharper  that  there  is  no  hope  for  him,  and  he  either  applies  to  some 
respectable  physician,  as  a  drowning  man  grasps  a  straw,  or  resigns 
himself  to  his  fate,  or  perhaps  seeks  refuge  in  a  suicide's  grave. 
Who  can  say  how  many  of  the  suicide's  chronicled  by  the  press  are 
brought  about  in  this  manner  ? 

Some  time  ago  we  saw  a  long  article  in  the  X.  Y.  Tribune,  re- 
commending the  root  of  Veronica  quinquefoli  i ,  as  a  grand  panacea  for 
scrofula  in  all  its  forms,  and  soon  after  we  noticed  in  the  Rural 
New  Yurhr,  another  article  by  the  same  author.  On  reading  these 
articles  we  suspected  that  there  was  a  cat  hidden  under  the  meal, 
and  upon  making  inquiry,  we  ascertained  that  the  writer  of  the  ar- 
ticles was  selling  the  root  at  three  dollars  an  ounce,  or  two  ounces 
for  five  dollars.  The  price  of  the  article  in  the  New  York  drug  and 
herb  stores,  is  less  than  one  dollar  a  pound!  The  editors  of  the 
Tiibune  and  Rural  New  Yorker  have  unwittingly  allowed  the  use 
of  their  columns  to  aid  a  private  and  extortionate  speculation.  It 
is  a  sort  of  spasmodic  revival  of  an  old  thing  which  has  been  before 


74 


ROGUERIES  OF  NEW  YORK. 


the  public  in  one  way  or  another  for  the  past  twenty  years.  The  medi- 
cine in  question  is  the  root  of  a  plant,  the  proper  botanical  name  of 
which  is  Veiomca  Vogimca,  and  has  been  called  fsptandra  Virgit  ieat 
and  Veronca  quinqiirfolin.  The  common  name  is  Culver's  Root,  and 
it  is  sometimes  called  Indian  physic.  Though  not  very  common 
around' New  York,  it  is  abundant  enough  through  the  West. 

In  regard  to  the  medicinal  qualities  of  the  plant,  we  have  only  to 
say,  that  it  is  much  used  by  the  so-called  "  herb  doctors,"  and  it 
possesses  powerful  cathartic  and  emetic  properties.  We  judge  it  to 
be  altogether  too  active  an  agent  to  be  used  unadvisedly.  If  one  is 
ill  enough  to  require  a  medicine  of  this  kind,  he  is  in  a  condition  to 
need  the  advice  of  an  intelligent  physician. 

We  find  by  an  occasional  advertisement  in  some  journals  pub- 
lished at  distant  points,  that 

"Dr.  James,  a  well-known  retired  physician,  discovered,  while  in 
India,  a  sure  remedy  for  Consumption.  Bronchitis,  Colds,  etc.  To 
help  suffering  humanity,  the  recipe  will  be  sent  lor  two  stamps  to  pay 
expenses." 

He  may  truthfully  say  he  is  well  known.  His  plan  of  operations, 
and  that  of  many  others  of  his  class,  have  been  repeatedly  exposed. 
Upon  applying  for  the  remedy  you  will  receive  a  pamphlet  record- 
ing marvelous  cures,  with  the  information  that  you  can  best  procure 
the  prepared  remedy  by  forwarding  a  dollar  or  more  to  him,  or  his 
agents,  and  upon  taking  said  remedy  you  will  discover  that  both 
it  and  yourself  have  been  sold  and  that  the  advertiser  has  made  all 
the  profits. 

This  "  retired  physician,"  who  may  sometimes  be  met  under 
the  name  of  a  °  retired  clergyman,"  must  be  of  far-reaching  benevo- 
lence and  immense  practice,  for  we  have  found  his  advertisements 
in  Irish,  English  and  Australian  papers,  his  offices  being  respectively 
in  Dublin,  London,  and  Melbourne.  There  is  in  fact  a  rogue  in  each 
city  who  practices  this  gouge.  The  retired  physician  in  this  country 
was  a  young  fellow  named  Erown,  utterly  without  knowledge  of 
medicine,  and  very  ignorant  of  most  other  things,  excepting  the 
gullibility  of  the  public  to  whom  he  appealed.  His  business  was 
destroyed  by  public  exposure  and  the  surveillance  of  the  police. 
This  same  philanthropic  gentleman  has  more  recently  been  before 
the  public  under  the  title  of  "  Dr.  0.  Phelps  Brown,"  who  was  "  con- 
fined to  his  bed"  so  many  years  by  that  cruel  dyspepsia,  and  who  is 
advertising  that  he  was  eventually  cured  "  by  a  prescription  of  a 
mere  child"— very  knowing  child!  His  bump  of  benevolence  is 
still  as  large  as  ever,  and  he  still  desires  to  benefit  suffering  human- 
ity—for a  pecuniary  consideration. 

The  following  is  but  another  specimen  of  the  same  kind  of  fraud  : 

"  A  lady  who  has  been  cured  of  great  nervous  debility,  after  many 
years  of  misery,  desires  to  make  known  to  all  leliow-sufferers  the 
sure  means  of  relief.  Address,  enclosi*g  a  stamp,  Mrs.  M.  Merritt, 
P.  0.  box  368,  Boston,  Mass.,  and  the  prescription  will  be  sent  free 
by  return  mail." 

These  "  unhung  villains"  almost  invariably  advertise  and  skulk 


QUACKS  AND  MEDICAL  HUMBUGS. 


75 


under  fictitious  names,  having  sense  enough,  for  a  wonder,  to  be 
ashamed  of  their  disreputable  business,  and  to  entertain  a  wh<>lo- 
some  fear  of  the  police.  As  you  care  for  health  and  money,  shun 
them. 

A  man  by  name  of  Dr.  H.  Warner  personated  the  following  "  Boc- 
tors" : — "  Dr.  H.  Monell  &  Co.,"  i>ew  York ;  "Dr.  Wallace  Mortuor," 
New  York  ;  "  Dr.  Tracy  de  Lorme"  (the  u  Great  Curer  ot  Consump- 
tion"), New  Yors  ;  M  Lebnur  &  Dayton."'  New  York. 

A  man  by  name  of  Duval  was  "Dr.  Bovici,"  Albany  ;  "  Dr.  Bre- 
vot,"  Albany  ;  "  Dr.  Rees,"  Albany  ;  "  Dr.  Mozart,''  Albany  j  and 
"Dr.  Tawis^i,"  Albany. 

Dr.  Lockrow  is  u  Dr.  La  Croix,"  Albany  ;  "  Dr.  Henslow,"  Al- 
bany, and  u  Dr.  Hurdon,"  Albany. 

"  Mrs.  Merritt,"  Boston,  the  dear  creature  who  had  recovered 
from  a  distressing  nervous  debility,  and  wanted  to  sell  the  stulf 
"  what  did  the  cure,"  was  nobody  but  a  lazy  lout  of  a  man  ! 

Dr.  Sam'l.  Henderson  is  "  Dr.  Bland,"  New  York  ;  "  Dr.  Hankin- 
Bon,"  New  York  ;  and  "  Dr.  Hawkinson  &  Co.,"  New  Y'ork. 

Of  the  following  names,  some  are  real,  others  not.  At  all  events 
the  swindlers  that  made  use  of  them  were  abated  by  the  police. 

Dr.  Mellville,  New  York  ;  Dr.  Spencer,  New  York  ;  Dr.  Ru-h, 
New  Y'or<  ;  Dr.  Duval,  New  Y'or<  ;  Dr.  Bryant,  New  York;  Dr. 
Burnett.  New  Y'or.t ;  Dr.  S.  Ruse,  New  Yor  <  ;  Br.  E.  Anderson,  Al- 
.  bany,  New  Y'ork  ;  Dr.  M.  Mozart,  Castleinn,  New  Y'or.i  :  Dr.  M. 
Reyno,  Troy,  New  Y'Or ;  ;  Dr.  La  hnlle,  New  Yor  c ;  nenry  G.  Dur.v- 
ley,  New  Yror.< ;  H.  C.  Garold,  Nei7  Yor<  ;  Henry  G.  Smith,  New 
Y'ork  5  James  D.  Bentley,  New  York  ;  Henry  S.  Lane,  New  York  ; 
and  many  others.  All  ot  whom  would  have* been  made  wealthy  by 
the  verdant  ones  in  due  time,  had  not  the  authorities  interfered. 

The  various  medicines  advertised  under  the  titles  ot  u  Elixir  of 
Life,"  "  Extract  Buchu,"  and  innumerable  other  names,  are  all 
worthless.  They  generally  consist  of  a  compound  of  molasses  and 
Croton,  flavored  with  cheap  drugs,  and  made  '-pleasant  to  the  tas:e" 
by  the  addition  of  a  little  whisky.  In  some  instances  the  remedies 
are  positively  hurtful.  The  u  certificates"  with  which  their  merits 
are  backed  are  in  almost  every  instance  forgeries.  The  proprietors 
of  a  much  puffed  "  cure"  were  lately  exposed  in  an  attempt  to  me 
the  name3  of  some  prominent  editors  of  this  city,  as  references,  with- 
out athority. 

The  many  varieties  of  Bitters,  so  much  advertised  at  present,  are 
merely  the  cheapest,  poorest  quality  of  whisky  or  rum,  diluted  with 
water,  and  disguised  by  a  flavoring  of  cheap,  and  ofien  damaged, 
drugs.  The  mysterious  ingredients  supposed  to  exert  so  beneficial 
an  influence  upon  the  human  system,  exist  only  in  the  imaglna  ion 
of  the  quacks  who  compound  the  nasty  washes.  The  habit  of  using 
these  compounds  as  beverages  is  a  most  pernicious  one,  and  almost 
inevitably  leads  to  habitual  intemperance.  They  generally  purport 
to  be  of  great  assistance  to  digestion ;  so  far  from  this  being  the 
the  case,  they  invariably  injure  the  digestive  powers.  They  are 
generally  patronized  by  those  who,  from  continued  dissipation, 
have  lost  all  energy  and  vigor,  to  whose  jaded  systems  for  a  time 


JAY  IRVING  COLLEOTION 


76  ROGUERIES  OF  NEW  YORK. 

these  injurious  beverages  give  a  stimulus,  only  to  leave  them  more 

pros. rated  than  before. 

Tue  "  Sambuci  Wine,"  recommended  as  a  valuable  remedial  agent, 
is  an  ardcle  tbat  ordinary  people  would  call 4<  elderberry  wine/'  and 
being  no  more  or  less  t  <ul  ••  e;derberry  wine,"  our  readers  can  judge 
its  medicinal  properties  for  themselves.* 

.During  tne  ripening  season  of  these  berries  a  lively  time  is  had  by 
the  boys  and  girls  around  Passaic,  Bergen,  and  the  adjoining  couu- 
tie3  of  .New  Jersey,  in  gathering  this  not  "  imported-from-Portugai'' 
fruit,  at  the  tolerably  liberal  figure  of  one  cent  per  pound,  wtiich 
is  paid  by  the  proprietor  of  the  mythical  "vineyard  in  New  Jersey." 
It  may  not  be  amiss,  to  tell  our  readers,  that  a  palatable  beverage 
called  "  wine"'  is  made  from  the  elderberry,  and  if,  in  the  manufac- 
ture, a  small  quantity  of  "  Jersey  Lightning''  be  added,  a  mixture 
peculiarly  resembling  the  much  vaunted  ,;  Sambuci"  is  obtained, 
and  that,  too,  at  a  cost  very  far  below  one  dollar  per  bottle.  The 
newspapers  are  paid  to  insert  puffs  of  this  Sambuci  compound,  and 
nine-tenths  of  the  editors  probably  do  rrot  know  or  care  whether 
the  statements  are  true  or  not  We  have  read  some  outrageous 
yarns  concerning  this  wine,  of  persons  believing  it  to  be  the  i  urest 
kind  of  Port:  of  what  the  London  7'i»»e»  is  supposed  to  have  said 
about  it,  rnd  of  its  wonderful  medicinal  properties;  all  of  which 
to  any  one  who  has  suen:  a  little  time  in  the  coun  ies  aforementioned, 
seems,  to  speak  somewhat  mildly,  sligb'iy  on  the  order  of  nmnve. 

The  various  advertising  oculists  and  aurists  advertising  in  the 
newspapers  are,  without  any  exception,  humbugs.  They  in  no  case 
know  more  of  the  diseases  which  they  profess  to  treat,  than  any 
competent  physician,  and  generally  much  less.  Their  charges  are 
exorbitant,  and  the  patient  seldom  receives  any  lastiug  benefit  from 
them.  The  more  n2w-fangied  machinery  these  persons  possess,  the 
more  cer:ainiy  are  they  impostors.  The  4<old  eyes  made  new'' 
pamphlet  is  merely  an  advertising  circular  of  a  machine  of  very 
doub.tul  value  called  tue  eye-sii"rpcner.  We  pre  nine  our  readers' 
eyes  are  sharp  enough  .opieven„  them  paying  for  a  mere  adverting 
circular. 

We  trust  that  public  opinion  will  soon  compel  all  respectable 
journals  to  exclude  the  adveiiisements  of  the^e  scoundrels  from 
their  columns.  Many  papers  already  have  refused  to  insert  them, 
and  a  number  have  labored  to  expose  them.  Among  these  we  may 
mention  the  A'uer.can  Agricu  turi  >,  of  tbb  city,  which  has  labored 
faithfully  to  protoct  its  readers  from  being  swindled  and  deceived. 
As  a  general  rule,  put  no  trus'  in  a  medicine  that  purports  to  cure 
every  thirg,  or  muny  unrelated  diseases  ;  put  no  confidence  in  a  phy- 
sician who  advertises  anything  beyond  his  address  and  ihe  diseases 
which  he  treats  :  nor  in  a  beverage  which,  while  it  exhilarates  or 
intoxicates,  professes  also  to  be  a  good  medicine. 

•Elderbe  r  .  currant,  and  other  home-made  wines  .  re  inn  c  it 
srh  eft  taken  in  m  deration,  we  le.i-vi,  a  d  all  are  made  easily  and 
sim]  1. .  For  rec  pes,  by  wit  ch  to  in  lt;e  th>se.  and  other  harmless 
and  reiieaiiiug  beverages,  see  u  Seciets  Worth  Knowing."  (Adv.  on 
cover.> 


MOUSTACHE  FORCERS,  ETC. 


77 


CHAPTER  XYH. 

MOUSTACHE  FORCERS  AND  OTHER  SWINDLES. 

h-^LrdK-rllre  Probablr  al1  fam»iar  with  the  following  river- 
papcrasS:aPPejred  **  *  l0Dg  ^  fa  ^  °f  tbe  d^ 

by  W XOniuPn}V»Sner  S  Mouc;tache  forced  to  prow  in  six  weeks, 
aL?\  J"Suent.  which  will  not  stain  or  injure  the  skin.  11  a  buttle 
Sent  to  any  part  of  the  country.   R.  G.  G— T  No.  '  lie. 


Master  FuEnnr,  as  ite  Views  fre  tm  AnrNATiON)  hts  ArrE\R\NCE 

A*TER  A  PROPOSED  APPLICATION  OF  THE  GhtEAT      (>NU  L  hNT.'' 

This  announcement  has  no  doubt  been  a  most  tantalizing  tempta- 
tion to  youths  in  their  teens,  and  young  men  who  had  found°a  faithful 
use  of  the  razor  unavailing  to  convert  them  into  "  bearded  monsters  n 


78 


ROGUERIES  OF  NEW  YORK. 


Why  do  babies  cry  after  the  moon?  Why  does  all  the  world  want 
what  it  can't  get?  Why  have  boys  of  sixteen,  or  thereabout,  such 
an  inordinate  desire  for  beards?  And  why,  when  the  gift  would  be 
most  acceptable,  does  the  hard-handed  dunie  insult  them  with  a 
sprinkling  of  peach-furze  instead  ?  And  why,  when  years  have  ma- 
tured the  hirsute  harvest,  doe3  the  desire  for  it  disappear,  and  the 
man  become  involved  in  expenditure  of  time  and  money  to  get  rid 
of  that  appendage  which,  as  a  youth,  he  would  have  gloried  in  ? 

For  several  years  this  pioneer  of  the  onguent  business  had  the 
field  almost  entirely  to  himself.  Lately,  however,  numerous  parties 
have  sprung  up  in  "all  parts  of  the  country,  and  the  papers  aje  now 
filled  with  the  announcements  of  innumerable  compounds  for  stimu- 
lating backward  nature  to  the  performance  of  her  supposed  duties. 
Each  of  these  articles  is  claimed  by  its  manufacturer  io  be  the  best, 
the  only  reliable,  the  "  warranted  effective  or  money  refunded.'7 
In  one  instance  we  notice  an  advertiser  recommends  persons  "not 
to  waste  their  money  for  worthless  articles,"  but  to  be  sure  to  send 
for  his  compound.  The  truth  is  that  all  the  articles  advertised  to 
promote  the  growth  of  the  beard  are  humbugs.  They  are  composed 
of  very  stimulating  ingredients,  generally  cantharides,  and  blister 
and  burn  the  skin  so  that  in  some  instances  painful  sores  are  formed. 

We  met  an  acquaintance  once  with  his  face  bandaged  up,  and 
concealed  with  a  number  of  handkerchiefs.  He  complained  of 
toothache.  AVe  met  him  a  week  after  with  the  same  supply  of 
bandages,  and  the  same  account  of  toothache.  We  ascertained  after- 
wards that  instead  of  being  afflicted  with  an  affection  of  the  teeth, 
he  had  been  experimenting  with  one  of  these  nostrums,  and  had 
raised,  not  a  beautiful  set  of  whiskers,  but  a  huge  blister  on  each 
of  his  chee\-s.  Being  rather  ashamed  of  the  affair,  he  had  resorted 
te  the  little  fiction  of  toothache  to  conceal  his  mishap. 

Judging  from  appearance^,  these  onguent  and  lotioD  chaps  drive 
a  flourishing  trade.  We  trust  we  have  said  enough  to  prevent  thoso 
who  read  this  book  from  being  taken  in  by  them. 

The  offer  made  by  one  advertiser  to  send  a  recipe  free  for  effecting 
the  desired  result,  is  also  a  humbug,  worked  in  the  same  manner  as 
the  free  medical  recipes  exposed  in  the  preceeding  chapter. 

The  wish  on  the  part  of  the  female  portion  of  humanity  to  look 
well,  is  a  most  praiseworthy  desire,  but  it  should  not  lead  them  to 
become  the  dupes  of  swindling  manufacturers  of  dangerous  cosme- 
tics. The  following  advertisement  we  clip  from  a  paper  of  recent 
date.   The  dodge  is  the  same  as  in  respect  to  all  other  free  recipes: 

"Secret  of  Perpetual  Beauty— The  beautiful  a't  of  enameling 
the  skin  will  he  sent/m  in  the  Journal  of  Beauty.  This  enamel  will 
give  the  skin  a  soit,  charming,  pearl  li tee  tii,t  tuch  as  can  only  be 
lound  in  youth.  It  will  not  wash  <  tf,  or  injure  the  s^'in.  Will  remn'n 
permanent  lor  years,  a^d  cannot  be  detected.  Address,  w.'th  stamp, 
frof.  B  B.,Parkman,  Ohio.  ' 

The  same  remarks  will  apply  to  the  following  "  communication" 
which  appears  in  the  special  notice  column  of  numerous  journals  : 

"Editor  of  the  Hkrald— Dear  Sir:  With  your  permission  I  wish 
to  say  to  the  readers  of  your  paper  that  I  will  send  by  return  mail, 


MOUSTACHE  FORCERS,  ETC. 


79 


to  all  who  wish  it  (free)  a  recipe,  with  full  directions  for  making  and 
using  a  simple  Vegetable  Bj'm  that  will  effectually  remove,  in  ten 
days,  Pmpies,  Blotch,  Tan,  Freckles,  and  all  impurities  of  the  skin, 
leaving  the  fame  soft,  clear,  smooth  and  beautiful. 

•'I  will  also  mail  free  to  these  having  Bald  Heads  or  Bare  Faces, 
simple  directions  and  information  that  will  enable  them  to  start  a 
gruwth  of  luxuriant  Hair,  Whiskers,  or  a  Moustache,  in  less  than 
thirty  days. 

"All  applications  answered  by  return  mail  without  charge.  Re- 
spectfully," &c. 

The  hair-dyes  advertised  and  sold  by  so  many  druggists  and 
manufacturers,  all  contain  nitrate  of  silver,  sulphur,  oxyde  and 
acetate  of  lead,  sulphate  of  copper,  and  other  noxious  substances. 
One  preparation  made  by  several  hundred  different  persons  and 
by  as  many  different  names,  is  composed  principally  of  lac  sulphur 
and  su^ar  Of  le.id.  It  is  probably  as  harmless  an  article  as  is  known 
tat, restoring  ho  hair,  but  we  advise  our  readers  to  use  as  lit-le  of 
any  article  of  the  kind  as  possible.  The  preparation  named  can  be 
made  at  a  cost  of  a  few  cents,  and  it  is  hai^l  worth  while  to  pay 
trom  one  to  five  dollars,  the  usual  price  charged. 

"  IIOPE  DEFERRED  MAKETH  THE  HEART  SiCK." 


APPEARANCE  OF  TUB  "LUXURIANT  WHISKERS  AND  MOUSTACHE"  OF  Ol"!l 
OFFICE-BOY  AFTER  HE  HAD  USKD  THAT  ONUUKNT  SEVEN  WEEKS,  AT  AN 
EX  TENSE  OF  $3.     HE  THINKS  PROSPECTS  ARE  ENCOURAGING  ! 

All  rowders  and  cosmetics  for  superfluous  hair  are  dangerous, 
f.nd  have,  in  some  instances,  been  known  to  prove  fatal.  Even  the 
most  innocent  are  composed  of  quick-lime,  which  will  invariably 
dry  np  and  destroy  the  skin.   Most  of  the  ar  deles  of  the  kind  are 


80 


ROGUERIES  OF  NEW  YORK. 


much  more  dangerous,  and  contain  much  more  powerful  and  in- 
jurious ingredients  ;. the  lail  antcphdque,  for  instance,  contains  cor- 
rosive sublimate  and  oxyde  of  lead.  A  druggist  or  chemist  in 
France,  who  should  deliver  to  a  customer  such  a  remedy  without  a 
regular  prescription,  would  render  himself  liable  to  incur  a  penalty 
of  6,000  francs.  The  "  pimple  banisher,"  "  beautiflers,"  and  similar 
cosmetics,  are  generally  nothing  more  than  borax  dissolved  in  wa- 
ter, and  perfumed.  Soap  is  also  dissolved  and  perfumed,  and  sold 
for  the  same  purpose.  Our  readers  who  desire  to  "  beautify  their 
complexion,"  will  find  that  common  oatmeal,  used  instead  of  soap, 
to  be  really  an  excellent  article,  and  much  more  effective  than  the 
much-puffed  nostrums  in  the  market. 

A  large  portion  of  the  lotions,  washes,  and  other  preparations  for 
cleansing  the  teeth,  contain  acids  which,  though  they  give  a  beauti- 
ful whiteness  to  the  teeth,  will  surely  destroy  them  in  a  very  short 
time.  A  set  of  inhuman  charlatans  are  now  traveling  through  the 
country,  applying  sulphuric  acid  to  the  teeth  of  their  dupes.  This 
acid  is  used  by  farmers  for  dissolving  bones,  and  a  single  applica- 
cation  to  the  teeth  does  them  an  irreperable  injury.  The  enamel  is 
soon  eaten  away  by  the  acid,  and  the  teeth  ruined  forever.  We 
make  it  a  practice  never  to  use  any  preparation  for  our  teeth,  the 
ingredients  of  which  we  are  unacquainted  with,  and  always  avoid 
all  the  "  patent"  articles.  Soap  and  water  is  probably  the  safest 
thing  to  use— if  you  desire  anything  else,  take  our  advice  and  pre- 
pare it  yourself.  In  no  case  apply  to  your  teeth  anything  sold  by 
traveling  dealers,  or  anything  that  you  know  nothing  about. 


CHAPTER  XVIII. 

PETROLEUM  SWINDLES— BUBBLE  COMPANIES —  HOW  THE  STOCKHOLDERS 
ARE  VICTIMIZED. 

When  the  oil  wells  of  Pennsylvania  and  West  Virginia  were  first 
opened,  in  1860,  thousands  of  men  set  blindly  at  work  boring  along 
every  considerable  water-course  in  the  infected  district.  Wells 
were  "  struck"  which  flowed  one  thousand,  two  thousand,  three 
thousand  barrels  per  day.  Some  men  became  immensely  rich — 
many  more  sunk  their  little  piles  and  went  home  poor.  Oil  could 
not  be  used  in  the  quantities  in  which  it  was  obtained ;  it  went 
down  in  price  to  twenty-five  cents  per  barrel  at  the  wells.  All 
except  the  owners  of  the  largest  wells,  and  a  few  far-sighted  men, 
like  the  Economite  Quakers  at  Tideoute  on  the  Alleghany,  aban- 
doned the  business,  and  derricks  were  left  to  rot,  and  wells  to  fill 
up,  while  their  disappointed  owners  sought  other  employments  or 
went  into  the  army.  Gradually,  by  reason  of  improvements  in 
refining  and  in  the  style  of  kerosene  lamps,  oil  came  to  be  more 
generally  used  for  illuminating  purposes,  and  its  price  advanced 


PETROLEUM  SWINDLES,  ETC. 


81 


until,  in  the  Fall  of  1863,  crude  oil  was  worth,  at  the  wells,  five  or 
six  dollars  a  barrel. 

The  "  Noble"  well  on  Oil  Creek  commenced  to  flow  three  thou- 
sand barrels  per  day  when  oil  was  worth  a  dollar  a  parrel,  and.  it 
coninued  to  yield  over  a  thousand  barrels  until  the  price  was  more 
than  ten  dollars.  This  well,  and  others  almost  equally  successful, 
revived  the  spirit  of  speculation  and  carried  it  to  a  point  never 
before  attained,  and  the  market  was  flooded  with  worthless  oil 
stocks  until  a  new  reaction  was  produced,  and,  in  the  early  Summer 
oi  1864,  speculation  in  oil  lands  was  as  flat  as  ever.  Old  wells  kept 
on  yielding,  and  determined  borers  kept  on  boring -mere  specula- 
tors retired  for  the  hour.  In  the  succeeding  Autumn,  new  large 
wells  were  struck.  Some  stocks,  which  had  been  bought  at  two 
dollars  and  a  half  per  share,  went  up  to  twenty-five  dollars— one  as 
high  as  forty  dollars.  All  oil  stock  sympathized,  and  all  hands 
made  money.  Oil  was  still  high  in  price,  and  everything  looked 
bright.  Again  the  roads  of  Venango  were  crowded  with  eager 
buyers  of  land. 

On  the  first  of  January,  1865,  there  was  hardly  a  farm  on  a  water- 
course withiu  thirty  miles  of  Oil  City  which  had  not  been  leased  or 
sold  by  its  original  proprietor.  New  companies  were  organized,  new 
wells  were  struck,  and  the  business  promised  to  exceed  all  former 
limits.  The  stock  of  a  company  with  a  nominal  capital  of  a  million 
dollars  could  be  sold  in  Wall  street  (at  the  subscription  price  of  one 
half  or  less)  .in  three  days — and  that  without  much  regard  to  the 
value  of  the  property  on  which  the  company  was  based. 

Of  course  this  atlbrded  rare  opportunities  for  speculators  and 
others  to  organize  bogus  and  worthless  companies,  and  to  foist  their 
stock  on  the  unsuspecting  or  too  confiding  public.  Companies  were 
gotten  up  every  day.  in  this  and  every  other  city,  the  large  majority 
of  which  were  either  entirely  or  nearly  worthless.  Many  gentlemen 
standing  high  in  the  community  allowed  their  names  to  be  used  in 
connection,  often  without  knowing  anything  about  the  responsibility 
of  the  concerns,  or  their  chances  of  success.  In  some  instances  the 
names  of  prominent  citizens  were  attached  to  prospectuses  without 
the  knowledge  of  the  parties,  and  in  other  instances  fictitious  names, 
much  resembling  well-known  persons,  were  used  with  the  intention, 
of  course,  to  deceive  the  public. 

One  of  these  bubble  companies  has  just  exploded,  and  we  cannot 
give  the  reader  a  better  description  of  the  manner  in  which  similar 
companies  are  gotten  up,  than  by  giving  an  account  of  the  working 
of  this  concern,  as  shown  by  the  complaint  of  the  victims,  made 
before  justice  Dodge,  of  the  Jefferson  Market  Police  Court. 

"  Mr.  George  D.  Kellogg,  of  No.  397  West  Twenty-third  street,  yes- 
terday appeared  before  Justice  Do(«re  at  the  Jefferson  Market  Police 
Court  and  preferred  charges  against  William  D.  Mann  and  Daniel 
Stratton,  jr.,  of  No.  210  Broadway,  alleging  that  by  false  representa- 
tions they  had  defrauded  him  and  others  out  of  the  sum  of  over 
$45,000.  From  the  affidavits  made  by  him  it  appears  that  the  ac- 
cused, some  months  since,  organized  a  company  to  be  known  as  the 


82 


ROGUERIES  OF  NEW  YORK 


1  United  Service  Petroleum  and  Mining  Company.'  Major  Gen. 
Yv'illiam  S.  Hancock,  either  with  or  without  his  consent,  was  elected 
President,  and  Mann,  one  of  the  accused,  Vice-President  and  Gen- 
eral Superintendent.  A  prospectus  was  published,  giving  the 
names  of  the  founders  of  the  company,  its  officers  and  stockholders, 
prominent  among  whom  were  the  names  of  some  of  the  most  cele- 
brated officers  connected  with  the  Army  of  the  Petomac  and  the 
War  Department,  the  number  of  acres  of  land  owned  by  the  com- 
pany and  its  location,  together  with  the  probabilities  of  striking 
oil  in  the  localities  mentioned  ;  all  presented  in  the  most  gorgeous 
colors,  and  when  backed  up  by  the  names  presented,  liable  to  de- 
ceive the  most  wary. 

"  Large  quantities  of  the  stock  were  sold,  amounting  in  the  aggre- 
gate to  over  $65,000,  of  which  Stratton  and  Mann  claimed  to  have 
spent  $45,000  in  payment  of  the  land,  and  expenses  of  working,  etc. 
A  short  time  since,  Messrs.  S.  J.  Albright,  ex-Governor  of  Arizona, 
William  S  Hillyer,  and  George  D.  Kellogg,  believing  that  all  was 
not  right,  went  out  to  where  the  land  mentioned  in  the  prospectus 
was  alleged  to  be  located,  and  there  found  that  a  swindle  of  the 
most  bare-faced  description  had  been  perpetrated.  In  no  instance 
were  the  representations  made  correct.  Instead  of  a  number-  of 
wells  almost  ready  to  yield  a  return  for  the  outlay  expended  on 
them,  as  they  had  expected  to  see,  they  found  but  one  solitary  ex- 
cavation, anil  the  hotel  and  outbuildings  described  in  the  prospectus, 
proved  to  be  nothing  but  wretched  shanties.  On  these  representa- 
tions the  magistrate  issued  a  warrant  for  the  arrest  of  the  accused. 
During  the  afternoon  officer  Andree  arrested  Mann  at  the  Astor 
House,  and  he  was  committed  to  await  an  examination.  Stratton  is 
ab?cnt  in  the  West,  but  will  probably  be  arrested  in  a  day  or  two, 
as  an  officer  has  been  dispatched  for  him.  Mann,  at  the  commence- 
ment of  the  war  entered  the  service  as  Colonel  of  the  7th  Michigan 
Cavalry,  and  while  on  duty  was  located  in  and  around  Washington, 
thus  enabling  him  to  form  the  acquaintance  of  many,  whom  he 
afterward  induced  to  enter  into  his  bubble  petroleum  scheme. 

The  following  are  the  affidavits  of  Mr.  Kellogg  and  others  : 

TESTIMONY. 

GEOitGE  D.  KELLOGG,  of  No.  3G7  West  Twenty-third  Street  testified  that  on 
the  5th  day  of  February.  1865,  he  was  induced  to  visit  Wiliiam  D.  Mann,  at  his 
office,  No. "240  Broadway,  and  found  there  present  Daniel  Stratton.  Jr.,  and  that 
said  Stratton  did  then  and  there  represent  to  this  deponent  that  they  had  pur- 
chased valuable  oil  lands  in  Ohio  and  Pennsylvania,  for  the  purpose  of  forming 
an  oil  company,  which  had  eventually  cost  them  $45,000,  and  were  to  be  put  into 
a  company  which  they  were  about  organizing1  in  the  city  of  New  York;  tbat  all 
of  said  purchase  money  had  been  subscribed  for,  and  in  addition  thereto  the  Mini 
of  $  15. 000  for  working  capital  to  develop  said  lands;  that  said  Ma:-n  had  been 
appointed  trustee  to  complete  such  purchase,  and  conduct  the  business  until 
such  company  could  be  formed;  that  said  Mann  had  subscribed  §10,000  and  said 
"Strattcn  89,000  toward  said  amount;  that  if  deponent  would  subscribe  Si, 000,  he 
(the  said  Mann)  would  let  deponent  have  $1,000  of  his  (said  Mann's)  subscription 
provided  said  Stratton  would  part  with  a  similar  amount  of  his  (said  Strattcn's) 
subscription,  to  which  said  Stratton  assented  ;  it  was  further  stated  at  that  time, 
by  said  Mann,  that  said  Siratton  was  about  leaving  for  the  West  to  complete  th« 
purchase  of  and  obtain  the  titles  to  said  lauds ;  deponent  further  sa>th  that  said 
Mann  and  Stratton  then  and  there  exhibited  to  him  a  paper  purporting  to  contain 


PETROLEUM  SWINDLES,  ETC. 


8B 


a  full  description  of  said  lands,  so  represented  to  have  been  pnrchased  by  them 
M  ufortfiaid,  and  which  was  substantially  the  same  as  the  several  lots  or  parcels 
of  U»i»J  mentioned  in  it  by  the  numbers  from  one  to  ten.  inclusive,  in  the  annexed 
prospectus  of  the  United  Service  Mining  and  Petroleum  Company,  stating-  at  the 
sunie  time  that  said  Maun  and  Stratton  had  carefully  selected  and  purchased  said 
lands,  and  that  the  investment  was  a  valuable  one";  deponent  further  saith  that, 
relying  upon  and  believing-  the  said  representations  of  said  Mann  and  Stratton,  as 
being  entirely  true,  and  believing  that  they  had  purchased  the  said  lands  and 
had  paid,  or  were  to  pay  therefor,  in  good  faith,  the  sum  of  815.000.  he  was  in- 
duced to  subscribe  toward  the  same  the  sum  of  61,000,  and  that  he  paid  to  the 
defendant.  Mann,  $500  on  account  of  said  subscription ;  deponent  further  saith 
that  the  subscribers  (or  a  majority  of  them)  to  the  fund  of  $00,000  aforesaid,  met 
in  the  City  of  Washington.  D.  C.,  about  the  beginning  of  March,  1865,  the  de- 
fendant. Mann,  being  present  and  consenting  thereto,  and  authorized  Gens.  W.  S. 
Hancock  and  Wm.  .S.  Hodman  of  the  United  States  Army,  and  Messrs.  Hillyer, 
Hotchkiss,  Marks,  Chadwick,  Church,  this  deponent,  and  the  defendant  Mann,  to 
form  a  company  under  the  laws  of  the  state  of  New  York,  under  the  corporate 
name  of  the  "  United  Service  Petroleum  and  Mining  Company,"  and  directed  the 
trustees  of  said  subscribers,  to  wit :  the  said  Mann  to  convey  the  property  afore- 
said to  said  company  as  soon  as  organized ;  that  the  said  company  organized  on 
or  about  the  15th  of  said  month;  the  Trustees  aforesaid,  or  a  majority  of  tLem, 
assembled  in  the  City  of  New  York  and  organized,  and  that  the  deponent  was  then 
and  there  elected  the  Secretary  of  said  Company  ;  deponent  further  saith  that  the 
prospectus  of  said  Company  was  proposed  by  the  said  Mann,  and  published  by 
hiin  about  the  15th  of  March  last,  and  was  not  seen  by  deponent  uutil  after  the 
same  was  printed  and  published  ;  and  that  the  said  Mann  represented  to  this  de- 
ponent that  all  the  matters  stated  therein  are  true,  and  that  the  said  Mann,  and 
deponent  Stratton,  were  the  two  persons  spoken  of  in  said  prospectus  as  having 
selected  the  lands  therein  described;  deponent  futher  saith  that,  relying  upon  the 
representations  of  said  Maun  and  Stratton,  and  upon  the  contents  of  said  prospec- 
tus, he  has,  since  the  same  was  published  procured  among  his  friends  further  sub- 
scriptions to  the  amount  of  S3. 00  J  toward  the  purchase  of  said  lands,  and  has  paid 
the  same  to  said  Mann  as  trustee  ;  deponent  further  saith  that  said  Mann  has  ex- 
hibited to  him  the  deeds  of  lots  numbered  1,  2  and  3  in  said  prospectus  from  said 
Stratton  to  said  Mann,  as  trustee,  claiming  and  pretending  to  have  purchased  the 
same  of  the  said  Stratton,  and  to  have  paid  him  therefor  $.5,000,  although  said 
Stratton  was  represented  to  this  deponent  as  one  of  the  par  Jes  who  selected  said 
lands  and  acted  as  one  of  the  purchasers  thereof  for  the  subscribers  to  the  original, 
purchase  money  thereof  for  the  purpose  of  forming  a  Petroleum  company,  and 
pursuant  to  which  arrangement  the  company  aforesaid  was  formed ;  deponent 
further  saith  that  said  Mann  has  assured  him  "that  lots  numbered  5  and  6  in  said 
Prospectus  cost,  and  that  he  had  paid  therefor,  $5,000  each,  and  that,  relying 
upon  said  representation,  among  others,  this  deponent  continued  his  connection 
with  6aid  company,  and  procured  money  to  be  paid  in  and  subscribed  toward 
the  purchase  money  thereof,  but  that  deponent  has  since  learned  that  lot  No.  5 
was  purchased  by  contract  by  said  Mann  and  Stratton  for  $3,000  and  no  more,  in 
January  last;  and  that  said  defendants  had  paid  to  bind  said  contract  $45  and  no 
more ;  and  that  lot  No.  7  had  been  the  property  of  said  Mann  since  1850.  and  was 
included  in  the  conveyance  of  a  large  parcel  of  land  conveyed  to  said  Mann  in 
1 85'J.  Deponent  further  saith.  that  upon  charging  the  said  Mann  with  these  facts, 
the  said  Mann  admitted  that  he  had  paid  for  said  lot  No.  5,  and  that  said  lot  No. 
7  he  had  put  into  said  compauy  for  $o,000;  deponent  further  saith  that  the  said 
Manq  has  admitted  to  him  that  subscriptions  had  been  made  to  said  original  fund 
of  money  to  the  av.ount  of  $65,000  and  upward,  and  there  had  beeu  paid  on  ac- 
count thereof  $57,000  and  upward  to  wit:  Bv  Gen.  C.  H.  Morgan,  $1,000;  Gen. 
Hancock,  $1,000;  S.  A.  H.  Marks,  $1,000;  Deponent  (Geo.  D.  Kellogg),  $5,000; 
Daniel  Stratton.  Jr.,  $4,000;  Geo.  D.  Kellogg,  $500;  Wm.  S.  Hillyer,  SI. 000 ; 
Geo.  D.  Hastings,  $1,000;  H.  W.  Goodrich,  $1,000;  Sam.  J.  Albright.  S150; 
Wm.  Swiuton.  $L,000;  Robert  S.  Davis.  $1,000;  James  Ellenson,  $1,000;  R.  P. 
Crawford.  $1,000;  Geo.  T.  Crawford,  $1,500;  B.  13.  Hotchkiss.  $1,000;  F.  C. 
Davis.  $1  000;  Wm  H.  Barbour.  1,000;  F.  S.  Walsh,  $1,000;  Dr.  Meir,  $1,500; 
William  K.  Price.  $300;  Col.  Frederick,  $400;  R.  F.  Mason,  $500;  Wm.  Hofif- 
man.  $1,000  ;  C.  R.  Dinsmore,  $1,000;  J.  II  Poland,  $1,000;  R.  N.  Scott,  $1,000; 
Beni.  C.  Carr.  $000;  Lewis  H.  Pelouse,  Sl.OOO,  and  others  whom  this  deponent 


84 


KOGUERIES  OF  NEW  YORK. 


does  not  now  recollect ;  for  these  and  other  sums,  amounting  in  all  to  upward  of 

$57,500  as  aforesaid,  deponent  further  saith  that  he  is  informed  and  believes  that 
the  whole  of  the  said  property  mentioned  and  described  in  the  prospectus  did  not 
cost  said  Mann  or  Strattou,  or  either  of  them,  S7.0U0  ;  deponent  therefore  charges 
that  all  the  aforesaid  charges,  representations  and  pretenses  made  to  him  by  saia 
Mann  and  Stratton  are  entirely  false  and  fraudulent,  and  that  they  were  made  by 
them  to  deponent  for  the  purpose  of  cheating  him  ;  and  that  by  these  fraudulent 
representations  he  was  defrauded  of  S50U ;  and  that  all  of  the  persons  named 
above  have  also  been  defrauded  by  Mann  and  Stratton,  by  means  of  said  fraudu- 
lent representations,  of  a  large  amount  of  money ;  and  that  through  these  false 
and  fraudulent  representations  and  pretenses  they  have  obtained  S45.000  and  up- 
ward ;  wherefore  deponent  prays  that  Mann  and  Stratton  may  be  arrested  and 
dealt  with  according  to  law.  GEORGE  D.  KELLOGG. 

Sworn  to  before  me,  June  26,  A.  D.  1S65, 

WM.  Dodge,  Police  Justice. 

The  affidavit  of  Mr.  William  S.  Hillyer,  which  was  also  made 
before  Justice  Dodge,  sets  forth  that  he  purchased  of  Mann  and 
Stratton,  and  that  they  represented  to  him  that  thev  paid  for 
lot  No.  1,  $10,000;  for  lots  Nos.  2  and  3,  $10,000  ;  for  lot  No.  5, 
$5,000  :  for  lot  No.  6.  $9,500,  and  for  lot  No.  8,  $4,000,  being  in  all 
$39,900,  and  that  the  residue  of  the  lands— namely,  lots  Nos.  4,  7 
10— cost  $5,100.  The  deponent  further  presents  as  evidence  against 
the  defendants  the  following  account : 

"  Office  Mann's  Patent  Accoutrements,  ) 
No.  240  Broadway,  N.  Y.,  April  23,  1865.  J 
United  Service  Petroleum  and  Mining  Co., 

To  W.  D  Mann,  Trustee,  Dr. 


For  expenses,  three  trips  to  Washington   $75  00 

Paid  Goodrich,  March  31   130  00 

Paid  BtebbiES   500  00 

Paid  Stratton  (Goodrich)   500  00 

Paid  3  engines,  at  $2,200  6,600  00 

Paid  April  11,  U.  S.  Magazine   60  00 

Paid  Ayrmone  (Prospectus)   196  00 

Paid  expenses.  April  17,  Stratton  2,500  00 

Paid  Harper's  Weekly,  adv   330  00 

And  other  items,  amounting,  in  the  aggregate,  to  11,265  85 
(E.  and  P.  E.  Signed)  W.  D.  Mann.' 


The  remainder  of  Mr.  Hillyers  affidavit  reiterates  the  concluding 
portion  of  that  of  Mr.  Kellogg. 

On  behalf  of  the  stockholders  an  Ex-Governor  of  Arizona,  Mr. 
Albright,  went  out  to  the  site  of  the  property  to  investigate.  He 
found  the  lands  barren  of  oil,  the  wells  mm  est,  the  "  hotels  and 
dwellings"  shanties,  and  the  w  hole  thing  a  deplorable  sham.  Re- 
turning he  prepared  a  statement  on  which  Mr.  Kellogg  basis  hi3 
affidavit.  His  coming  Mr.  Mann  heralded  to  the  Superintendent, 
Goodrich,  who  claims,  however,  to  be  innocent  of  intent  to  defraud, 
in  the  following  model  letter  : 

11  Offtce  Mann's  Pate>*t  Accoetrfmeots  ) 
No.  240  Broadway,  May  29,  1865.  \ 
"  My  Dear  Goodrich  :  I  inclose  you  a  certified  check.   I  have  been 
obliged  to  delay.   You  know  1  told  you  that  your  check  would  be 
protested,  as  I'had  drawn  another.   I  nope  it  will  cause  you  no  incon- 


AFFLICTED   WITH   CHRONIC  BEXEVoLEXCE. 

See  Pago  T4 


86 


ROGUERIES  OF  NEW  YORK. 


venlence.   I  am  anxious  to  hear  from  yon.   Some  of  the  company 

have  sent  a  spy  our.  to  nose  about  your  operations.  It  is  contemp- 
tible. Look  out  for  bim.  G.ve  no  information,  but  crack  everything 
up  high.  Tell  bim  j  ou  are  doing  all  possible,  a  d  that  no  man  ever 
pushed  matters  out  there  as  i  have.  You  stand  uy  me  and  1  wili  by 
you  We  uiuat  run  this  thing.  Tell  him  the  third  engine  is  at 
Franklin  or  somewhere  en  route,  and  has  been  a  long  time,  hut  you 
can  get  it  on  no  taster  than  the  road  will  transport.  Tne  engine  was 
shipped  long  ago.  Write  me  fully  at  once.  Give  this  man  a  big  idea 
of  the  hr  use  and  lot  on  which  it  stands  and  ot  its  value,  &c.  It  be- 
longs to  Stratton.  Don't  let  them  know  that  the  office  is  on  that  lot. 
The  man  is  a  short  thick  man,  with  black  curly  hair,  and  his  name  is 
Albright. 

**  Signed,  Mann." 

Mr.  Goodrich  was  employed  in  Venango  County,  Pennsylvania, 
by  Stratton,  in  February  last,  as  superintendent  of  the  United  Ser- 
vice Petroleum  and  Mining  Company,  and  relying  on  Stratton  and 
Mann's  statements,  he  obtained  subscriptions  to  the  stock,  but  he 
soon  after  learned  that  land  in  the  immediate  neighborhood  of  the 
land  which  they  had  taken  could  be  purchased  for  Sl,50(r  an  acre. 
Mr.  George  C.  Hastings  also  made  an  affidavit  corroborative  of  Mr. 
Kellogg. 

We  have  not  room  to  insert  the  prospectus  of  this  Company.  We 
can  only  say,  that  a  more  glowing  description  of  its  advantages 
could  scarcely  have  been  conceived  in  the  brain  of  the  most  imagin- 
ative, or  a  more  alluring  bait  held  out  to  those  who  wished  to  rear 
a  colossal  fortune  from  investments  in  the  oil  business.  Things  look 
differently  to  different  persons,  and  those  who  failed  to  perceive 
"  valuable  hotel  property"  in  a  tumble-down  shanty,  would  proba- 
bly be  unable  to  see  a  number  of  valuable  properties  mentioned  in 
the  prospectuses  of  other  companies. 

We  give  below  a  list  of  the  original  members  of  the  United  Ser- 
vice Company,  as  published  in  the  prospectus  of  the  Company.  We 
believe  all  the  gentlemen  named  were  acting  in  good  faith,  and  had 
no  design  of  defrauding  the  public.  Some  of  them  may  have  entered 
the  Company  without  a  careful  examination  of  its  merits,  but  we 
doubt  not  they  thought  it  a  bona-fide  business  enterprise. 

Of  th*  Army. — Major-Gen.  W.  S.  Hancock ;  Brig.-Gens.  Win.  Hoff- 
man, Com.  General  of  Prisoners,  Thomas  Kilby  Smith;  Green  B. 
Raiim  ;  W.  H.  Penrose  Morgan;  Cols.  Benj.  C.  Ca'd,  U.  S.  A. ;  Jacob 
Zeiiin.  Commandant  U.  S.  M.  C. ;  Lieut-Cols.  wr.  H.  Duff,  of  Lieut.- 
Gen.  Grant's  staff;  William  RedwoodPrice,  Chief  of  Cavalry  Bureau; 
C.  H.  Frederick,  V.  R.  C. ;  R.  F.  Morson,  31st  Penn.  Cavalry;  Lewis 
H.  Pelowze,  U.  S.  A.,  and  A.  A.  G.,  War  Department;  Majors  R >beit 
N.  Scott,  Major-Gen.  Balieck's  Staff;  Kilburn  Knox,  Inspector  Gener- 
al's Department ;  Augustus  Nicholson,  a  .  and  I,  General  U.  S.  Marine 
Corps  ;  W.  C.  Jones,  Paymaster  ;  J.  S.  M.  Potter,  Paymaster  U.  S.  A.; 
Howard,  War  Department;  George  K.  Leet,  J  ieut.-Gen.  G.  ant's 
Staff;  Captain  J.  8.  Poland,  2d  U.  8.  Infantry;  E.  B.  Stebbins,  M.  S. 
K.  and  P.  M.,  U.  S.  A.,  Washington  Arsenal  ;  W.  a.  LaMotte,  A.  A. 
Gen. ;  vV.  aiitcuell,  3d  U.  S.  Infantry ;  J.  N.  Cross,  V.  R.  C. ;  R.  P. 
Crawford,  A.  A.  G.  ;  G.  T.  Crawford,  A.  A.  G.;  C  F.  Hoyt,  A.  Q.  M. 
Late  of  the  Army— Colonels  W.  S.  Hilly  er,  of  Gen.  Grant's  Staff, 


PETROLEUM  SWINDLES.  ETC 


87 


George  P.  Thrie,  of  Gen.  Grant's  Staff;  R.  A.  Alger,  5th  Mich.  Cav. 
W.  D.  Mann,  7th  Mich.  Cav.;  Major  Henry  S.  F'tch  Gen.  Sherman's 
S  all";  Capis.  Ar.  C.  Church,  of  Geo.  Casey's  Sraff;  Georg€  D  Kelogg, 
ol  ben.  Ida!  eck's  Staff;  D.  Stratton,  P.  C.  Davis,  Cav  ilrv  Bureau. 

av  U  u.s.— The  II  >ns.  P.  vv'.  Kellogg,  M.  C. ;  C.  R  D.am imd,  Wash- 
ington, D.  C. ;  J.  Richard  Btrrett,  bt.  Loius,  Mo.;  H.  A.  I  had  .  icK, 
S.~A.  II.  Marts,  Jobn  G.  Stevenson,  P.  S.  Walsh.  W.  H.  Birl.our, 
Thomas  S.  Mercer,  Esqs.,  oi  Washington,  I).  C. ;  N.  P.  Payne,  Esq., 
Cleveland,  Ohio ;  D.  B.  iiotchkbs  and  John  Bidden,  E>-qs.,  of  .New- 
Tone. 

It  is  not  certain  that  all  these  gentlemen  were  members  of  the 
Company  — some  of  the  names  may  have  beun  used  without  any 
authority  whatever  —and  there  is  no  reason  for  believing  that  more 
than  the  two  or  three  individuals  who  "  ran  the  machine"  had  any 
idea  of  the  swindle  for  which  the  names  above  were  made  the  cover. 

Illuminating  oil  is  now  worth  from  six  to  seven  dollars  a  barrel 
on  the  Alleghany  River,  and  it  is  not  likely,  with  an  increasing 
demand,  to  range  below  that.  At  this  price,  a  ten  barrel  well  (one- 
half  of  the  oil  going  to  the  landowner  as  royalty)  may  be  pnmped 
at  a  profit.  Probably,  one  well  in  twenty  of  those  which  are  pro- 
perly sunk  and  well  managed  will  yield  ten  barrels.  The  oiher 
nineteen  may  be  accounted  failures,  not  paying,  in  the  aggregate, 
more  than  a  fair  interest  on  their  cost.  Ot  those  which  are  not  pro- 
perly sunk,  aud  are  badly  mismanaged,  a  large  portion  of  the  whole, 
we  do  no  speak  at  all.  If  this  estimate  is  true  (and  it  is  advanced 
by  the  most  experienced  oil-borers),  it  is  fair  to  assume  that,  with 
sufficient  capital,  managed  with  judgment,  skill  and  honesty,  even 
on  leased  land,  the  business  of  boring  for  oil  will  be  profitable. 

Of  course,  when  the  operators  own  the  land,  the  profit  is  more 
than  doubly  great.  Added  to  this  is  the  element  of  chance.  The 
oil  business,  however  well  systematized,  must  always  be  largely 
speculative.  Wells  yielding  from  twenty  to  fifty  barrels  per  day 
are  very  common ;  many  run  from  fifty  to  one  hundred ;  a  less 
number  from  that  to  four  or  five  hundred  ;  and  one  yields  over  nine 
hundred  The  larger  wells,  those  yielding  over  ten  barrels,  are 
estimated  to  be  worth  $4,000  for  each  barrel  of  the  daily  flow,  thus  ; 
a  ten-barrel  well  is  worth  (land  and  working  interest  together) 
$-10,000  ;  a  hundred-barrel  well,  $400,000  ;  a  five-hundred  barrel 
well,  $2,000,000,  etc.  With  these  possible  large  prices,  and  with 
the  fact  established  that  the  good  wells  are  to-day  worth  many  times 
the  cost  of  all  the  worthless  ones,  human  nature  must  be  radically 
changed  before  speculations  in  oil  will  cease. 

We  would  enly  counsel  such  of  our  readers  as  may  be  disposed 
to  embark  in  the  enterprise,  to  look  well  before  they  leap.  Other 
things  being  equal,  select  a  company  which  owns  its  land  in  prefer- 
ence to  one  which  is  working  on  leases  and  must  give  one-half  of  its 
oil  for  the  privilege.  Make  sure  that  you  intrust  your  money  to 
trustworthy  men,  whose  statements  may  be  believed,  and  who  may 
be  depended  on  to  manage  their  business  properly.  If  you  can 
resist  the  temptation  to  get  next  door  to  a  thousand-barrel  well — 
and  such  lightening  don't  often  strike  twice  in  the  same  place — seek 
a  property  which  is  near  navigable  water — teaming  costs  grievously 


88 


ROGUERIES  OF  NEW  YORK. 


in  Oildom — but  be  sure  that  it  is  in  a  district  which  is  already  pro- 
ducing oil  in  good  quantities.  Don't  put  all  your  eggs  inio  one 
basket — better  divide  $1,000  between  three  or  lour  good  companies 
than  to  hazard  it  all  in  a  single  venture.  Above  all,  be  careful  of 
the  speculations  of  the  stock-market  J  don't  buy  nor  sell  until  you 
know  whether  there  is  a  legitimate  reason  for  stocks  going  up  or 
down. 


CHAPTER  XIX. 

GOLD   MINES  AND  MINING  COMPANIES. 

Some  months  since  considerable  excitement  was  caused  by  new 
tales  of  wonderful  discoveries  of  deposits  of  gold  and  other  precious 
metals  in  the  territories  of  the  Pacific  States.  Numerous  companies 
were  formed  for  to  develop  these  discoveries.  Many  of  these  com- 
panies were  mere  bubbles,  and  thousands  who  invested  in  them  will 
never  recover  their  money.  Lately  the  petroleum  excitement  has 
drawn  attention,  in  a  great  measure,  from  gold  mining,  and  gold 
mining  companies  are  now  little  heard  of.  As  it  is  likely  the  excite- 
ment will  some  day  be  revived,  it  is  not  out  of  place  here  to  warn 
the  reader  against  irresponsible  parties,  who  may  attempt  to  dupe 
the  public  by  organizing  mining  companies. 

At  the  time  of  the  recent  mining  excitement  scores  of  these  com- 
panies were  formed  in  Eastern  cities,  each  one  of  which  held  forth 
(on  paper)  the  most- wonderful  prospects.  The  fact  that  a  very  few 
mining  companies  have  been  lucky  in  striking  upon  a  valuable  vein, 
is  held  up  as  an  example  of  what  others  are  likely  to  realize.  A 
San  Francisco  paper  gave  a  list  of  95  companies,  organized  in  Cali- 
fornia, by  persons  on  the  spot,  of  which  the  stock  of  only  five  (one  in 
every  nineteen !)  is  worth  par,  or  what  it  originally  cost  the  sub- 
scribers. What  can  those  at  a  distance  expect  then,  those  who  have 
only  hearsay,  or  the  statements  of  interested,  perhaps  visionary  or 
over-sanguine  parties  to  guide  them.  The  truth  is,  a  man  has  a  bet- 
ter chance  of  winning  a  prize  in  a  lottery.  As  with  the  gold  diggers, 
so  with  the  Eastern  formed  mining  companies,  where  one  will  chance 
to  be  successful,  forty-nine  will  loose  their  money  invested. 

An  editor  of  this  city  aimed  several  paragraphs  at  these  companies, 
when  they  were  putting  forward  their  inducements  for  persons  to 
ta  >e  their  stock.  In  a  subsequent  issue  of  his  paper,  he  says,  "  The 
men  engaged  in  one  of  them,  took  our  remarks  as  aimed  specifically 
at  themselves,  and  called  upon  us  with  documents  to  show  their 
legitimate  organization  (though  it  was  not  so  until  after  our  first 
paragraph  was  published  on  the  subject),  and  to  show  their  personal 
responsibility,  all  of  which  we  admit.  But  we  failed  to  be  convinced 
of  the  positive  good  prospects  of  the  company.  One  of  the  parties 
is  alone  able  to  take  all  the  stock  required,  and  if  he  had  full  faith 
in  all  that  he  holds  out  to  others,  he  would  not  invite  them  to  give 


GOLD  MINES  AND  MINING  COMPANIES. 


S9 


$2M  to  $5  for  shares  that  according  to  statements  pnt  forth  will  so 
speedily  become  worth  as  many  thousands.'' 

Persons  who  intend  investing  in  any  company  should  ta'>e  every 
precaution  to  secure  themselves  against  imposition.  As  in  the  Ca?e 
of  Quack  Doctors,  the  more  puffing  a  company  does  for  itself  the 
more  chance  of  its  being  a  humbug.  When  parties  offer  shares  for 
$5  which  they  declare  will  be  worth  $500  in  a  few  months,  they  show 
altogether  too  great  a  desire  to  put  money  in  your  pocket,  and 
prudence  would  counsel  you  not  to  put  too  much  faith  in  their 
representations. 

Many  of  these  swindles  would  have  gone  on  without  molestation 
had  not  the  Internal  Revenue  law  exposed  some  of  the  "  tricks  of 
the  trade." 

The  Atlantic  Gold  Mining  Company,  for  instance,  entered  into  a 
combination  to  have  their  stock  quoted  at  $2  at  the  brokers  sales, 
but  when  the  law  taxed  them  at  that  rate  they  squirmed  terribly, 
and  were  forced  to  own  up  the  truth.  The  officers  contessed  before 
the  Commissioners  that  the  sales  were  mere  tricks,  and  that  the  stock 
was  not  worth  more  than  twenty -five  cents,  and  probably  could  not 
have  been  sold  for  that. 

And  so  of  others.  The  Broome  Mining  Co.  had  their  stock  quoted 
at  the  board  at  ?2  when  it  is  not  worth  thirty  cents.  The  officers  of 
the  Canada  Lead  Mining  Company,  the  Champlain  Copper,  the  Chat- 
ham Mining,  the  Coal-brook  Mining,  the  Chebucto  GoU,  the 
Colorado  Gold,  the  Grand  Trunk  Copper,  the  Green  Mountain  Min- 
ing, the  Kent  Gold,  the  Logan  Copper,  the  Mahoncy  Coal,  the 
American  Gold,  the  Newton  Mining,  the  National  Lead,  "the  Oxford 
Plumbago,  the  Straftord  Copper,  the  Waterloo  Mining,  the  Glencoe, 
the  Dayton  and  the  Roscoe,  all  came  with  a  haltor  about  their  necks 
acknowledging  their  rascally  frauds.  It  was  '.ae  same  story  all 
through,  trickery  to  palm  off  their  worthless  or  next  to  worthless 
stocks  upon  the  public.  They  had  a  bitter  pill  to  swallow,  but 
there  was  no  alternative  ;  in  either  case  it  was  all  up  with  them,  the 
tax  would  take  their  last  cent,  and  confession  would  expose  their 
game,  but  yet  leave  them  a  few  dollars.  They  accordingly  chose 
the  latter  horn  of  the  dilemma,  and  hence  we  have  these  infamous 
developments. 

But  the  reader  will  ask,  "How  are  the  great  names,  which  we  see, 
obtained  as  officers  for  these  bogus  companies  ?"  In  several  ways 
speculators  have  found  that  the  names  of  influential  men  help  them 
wonderfully  with  the  people.  If  this  church  Deacon  or  that  bank 
President,  or  the  other  great  lawyer  or  prominent  politician,  gives 
character  to  the  company,  all  goes  well.  This  object  is  generally 
attained  by  privately  presenting  the  person  with  5,000,  10,000,  or 
100,000  dollars  of  the  stock,  charging  him  with  secresy,  and  then 
using  him  t<>  refer  to  as  a  shrewd,  upright  man,  who  has  become  a 
heavy  stockholder  in  their  company.  For  a  President  or  Treasurer 
of  their  concern,  the  speculators  have  to  pay  a  mach  larger  sum. 
In  some  instances,  as  much  as  a  quarter  of  a  million  dollar*  of  stock 
has  been  paid  merely  for  the  use  of  the  person  s  name,  the  specula- 
tors giving  him  the  assurance  that  none  of  his  time  should  be  re- 


90 


ROGUERIES  OF  NEW  YORK. 


quired  in  the  service  of  the  company.   In  other  cafes,  honest  men 

of  considerable  reputation  but  no  knowledge  of  business,  accept 
positions  in  these  companies  on  being  assured  that  they  are  "all 
right"  by  parties  with  whom  they  are  friendly,  but  with  whose  gen- 
uine character  they  are  not  acquainted.  The  company,  in  fact,  has 
nothing  to  do  but  empty  the  pockets  of  a  too  credulous  public. 
Mining  for  metals  or  boring  for  oil,  is  the  farthest  thing  in  the  world 
from  their  intentions.  Such  is  the  character  of  many  of  the  mining 
and  petroleum  organizations,  that  are  appealing  to  the  public  with 
their  flaming  prospectuses,  and  array  of  imposing  names.  All  are 
not  of  course  swindle?,  as  we  are  acquaiatad  with  some1  men  of  high 
standing  and  undoubted  honesty,  and  who, although  they  are  plac- 
ed at  the  heads  of  some  of  these  companies,  would  not,  if  they  could, 
secure  the  whole  capital  of  the  company,  nor  allow  outsiders  to  be 
duped  by  the  c  ev jiiie  ••>■  efe  >nd>i>tr<e.  who  are  thus  engaged  in  robbing 
confiding  citizens.  The  true  way  for  people  to  do,  who  wish  to  in- 
vest their  money  in  companies,  is  to  make  a  thorough  examination 
for  themselves,  and  not  trust  to  any  of  them,  until  they  have  the 
most  perfect  assurance  that  they  are  genuine  companies,  and  con- 
trolled by  men  of  undoubted  honesty  and  ability. 


CHAPTER  XX. 

LOVE  POWDERS — SYMPATHETIC  POWDEKS —  SFCF.ET  CHAKMS. 

That  there  should  be  any  persons  who  would  seriously  imagine 
they  could  u  gain  the  love  of  the  opposite  sex'-'  by  the  aid  of  pow- 
ders or  pi  Is,  may  be  doubted  by  many,  but  it  Is  so.  Whenever  you 
see  a  man  advertising  to  tell  how  to  win  a  person:s  love  by  some  mys- 
terious manner  you  may  feed  certain  that  man  is  engaged  in  the  sale 
of  what  are  known  as  "love  powders,"  or  something  similar. 

A  fellow  advertising  under  the  title  of  Professor  Rondout  adver- 
tises a  book,  at  one  dollar,  under  the  title  of  "  The  Art  of  Love- 
Making."  Besides  promising  to  give  instructions  for  beautifying  the 
person,  to  remove  tan  and  freckles,  and  a  number  of  other  things,  the 
4i  Professor"  claims  that ;"  ;it  teaches  h  -w  to  make  ladies  or  gentle 
men  win  the  devoted  affections  of  as  many  of  the  opposite  sex  as 
their  hear  ts  may  desire.  And  the  p  an  is  so  simple,  yet  so  cap.ivat- 
ing.  that  all  may  be  married,  irrespective  of  age,  appearance,  or 
position;  and  it 'can  be  arranged  with  such  ease  and  delicacy  that 
detection  is  impossible." 

The  plan  that  was  so  simple,  was  to  invest  in  the  advertiser's  love 
powders.  The  remainder  of  the  contents  were  puffs  of  his  lotions, 
etc.,  which  were  worthless  trash.  There  was  no  such  man  as  r<Pro- 
fe  sor  Rondout."  The  scamp  Who  advertised  himself  as  such,  was 
a  man  by  name  of  Weston  ;  but  for  reasons  best  known  to  himself, 
lie  was  not  to  be  seen  by  ordinary  mortals.    The  police  found  him, 


LOVE  POWDER?,  ETC. 


91 


however,  and  he  wx«  arretted  at  one  time  for  dealing  in  obscene 
poblieadonB.   Charming  Professor! 

It  is  unpleasant  to  estimate  the  number  that  were  completely 
"  sold"  by  the  above  tempting  advertisement ;  but  if  it  had  the 
effect  of  opening  the  eyes  of  bis  victims  to  a  view  of  one  species  of 
humbnggery,  it  was  not  without  its  good  results.  But,  beware  of 
all  similar  advertisements.  There  is  no  "  powder,"'  "  pills,"  or 
secrer  method  in  existence,  by  w  ich  one  person  is  caused  to  love 
another  ;  and  do  not.  for  a  moment,  allow  yourself  to  become  so  fur 
demented  as  to  think  there  is. 

The  love  powders  sold  by  these  rascals  are  either  substances 
haviug  no  effect  ei  her  for  good  or  evil,  or  are  compounds  of  violent 
stimulating  ingredients,  intended  to  excite  the  gross  animil  passions. 
No  one  who  really  loved  another  would  think  for  a  moment  of  re- 
sorting to  these  compounds  to  gain  the  others  affections.  Where 
parties  are  ignorant  of  these  ingredients  and  effects  they  may  be 
induced  by  The  statements  of  the  advertisers  to  use  the  powders, 


The  following  are  the  ingredients  of  the  modem  leve  powdera  : 


Spanish  flies  is  a  dar.gerous  drug,  producing  headache,  delirium, 
inflammation,  convulsion-,  and  death.  Phospnorus  is  also  a  poison 
of  a  most  violent  character.  Any  one  administering  a  compound 
like  the  above  would  render  himself  liable  to  very  severe  penalties. 

Another  scoundrel,  whose  re  d  name  is  Samuel  Henderson,  has 
been  for  some  time  swindling  the  public  by  means  of  various  hum- 
bugs. He  advertises' himself  as  "  Dr.  Bland,"  '"Dr.  Hankin=on." 
i;  Dr.  Hawkinson  «fc  Co.,"  &c.  Some  time  ago  he  was  arrested 
under  the  name  of  M  Dr.  Bland,"  but  was  released  on  promising  to 
abandon  his  swindling  business.  He  continued,  however,  in  "  full 
blast/'  and  was  again  arrested  on  complaint  of  persons  in  the  coun- 
try who  had  permitted  themselves  to  be  victimized  by  his  vile  ad- 
vertisements. His  obscene  advertising  circulars, — half  a  cart-load, 
or  more,— were  taken  to  the  Mayors  office  to  be  destroyed. 

This  model  "Dr."  is  again  under  headway.  He  advertises  his 
trash  by  means  of  a  dirty  sheet  called  the  yew  York  Journal,  which 
he  sends  to  all  parts  of  the  country.  One  of  his  extraordinary 
articles,  which  he  desires  to  send  to  any  address,  post-paid,  m  rem  pi 
of  one  dull  or,  is  the  "Matrimonial  and  Sympathetic  Card,"  which, 
he  says.  il  is  an  entirely  new  thing,  and*  of  wonderful  and  almost 
miraculous  virtue."  It  will  "  surely  accomplish  for  you  any  result 
you  may  need,  expect,  or  want."  '"But,"  says  the*  Doctor,  "  the 
most  wonderful  thing  about  them  is,  that  the  moment  you  I*  l  upon 
or  touch  one  of  them,  you  are  filled  with  the  most  intensely  pleasur- 
able and  happy  sensations  it  is  possible  to  conceive." 

These  wonderful  car  Is  are  simply  two  pieces  of  copper  and  zinc, 
soldered  together.  Tney  product  no  fgiMfmi  whatever,  except  a  dis- 
agreeable smell. 


without  any  evil  motive. 


Spanish  flies 
Pnosphi  rus  . 

Mask  

Cloves  


2  parts 


9:> 


ROGUERIFS  OF  NEW  YORK 


The  "  doctor"  gives  the  following  ridiculous  recipe  for  making 
love  powder  : 


The  hair  of  a  young  virgin,  calcined   3  oz. 

The  down  ol  a  youth's  chin(lbid)   4  oz. 

Tlie  eyes  of  toads   1  oz. 

Human  marrow   1  qr. 

The  sting  of  Queen  Bees   1  so. 

Camphor   6  oz. 

Pure  gold   1  qr. 


He,  however,  states  that  he  is  not  a  believer  in  love  powders  (we 
don't  believe  in  them  either),  kindly  advises  us  to  let  them  alone 
(very  good  advice,  so  far),  and  to  bi,y  his  u  compound"  (advice  of  very 
doubtful  value),  made  from  flowers,  which  is  so  "wonderful"  that 
he  is  "  sometimes"  astonished  by  it.  He  says  that  by  its  use  a  per- 
son is  thrown  into  such  a  state  that  it  is  extremely  difficult  to  say 
"  no,"  and  that  "  it  has  been  known  to  induce  a  promise  of  mar- 
riage where  all  other  means  failed."  [!] 

He  is  "  not  anxious  to  dispose  of  it,"  but  thinks  it  a  duty  to  "  ac- 
commodate his  friends  and  readers,"  and  therefore  "  will  send  a 
phial  of  this  rare  preparation  to  any  address  on  receipt  of  five  dol- 
lars." A  drop  will  suffice  for  one  occasion,  to  be  dropped  upon  the 
apparel  of  yourself,  and  of  those  of  whose  good  wishes  you  feel 
anxious  to  be  possessed." 

A  grosser  or  more  glaring  swindle  it  would  be  hard  to  conceive 
of. 

Many  of  the  "  Love-Powder  men"  have  become  very  wealthy, 
selling  their  worthless  trash  ;  and  "  Dr.  Hankinson"  will  probably 
"  retire  rich,"  unless  the  mayor  concludes  to  put  an  effectual  stop 
to  his  swindling  operations. 

"  One  of  the  most  prominent  of  these  men,"  says  the  Tribune,  "  is 
a  Dr.  E.  Andrews,  who  lives  in  a  four-story  brick  house  in  State 
Street,  in  Albany,  N.  Y.,  who  keeps  his  carriage,  and  cuts  a  huge 
dash.  He  does  not  carry  on  the  disgraceful  part  of  his  business  in 
Albany,  but  at  Ireland's  Corners,  a  little  place  about  five  miles  from 
that  city.  His  specialty  in  swindling  is  the  sale  of  an  instrument 
which  he  calls  the  '  Vibratory  Preventive,'  for  which  he  charges  $2, 
and  which  is  good  for  nothing  of  course.  The  following  letter, 
written  by  a  Virginia  postmaster  to  a  Dr.  Jean  Jacques,  who  deals 
in  Love  Powders,  will  show  one  man's  experience  of  Dr.  Andrews :" 

"Ritchie  C  H  Va  Nov  28 
Dr  Jean  Jaques  Dr  Sir 
in  looking  over  the  weekly  Samaritan  I  see  an  act  of  the  Magnetic 
Sympathetic  powders  I  have  seen  acts  of  this  kind  time  &  again  if 
they  be  tacts  they  truly  are  Miraculous  ones  I  always  had  an  anxiety 
to  prove  them  as  such  to  my  satisfaction  but  t  here  is  so  many  Rascals 
in  the  world  I  dont  know  who  to  trust  Some  time  ago  I  sent  two 
dollars  in  gold  Somebody  called  himself  D  E  Andiews  Irelands 
Corners  Albany  CoN  Y  perhaps  You  may  know  Him  if  you  do  You 
know  a  perfect  Scouderal  be  promis-ed  to  send  me  Something  that 
would  perform  all  that  you  say  your  powders  will  do  and  10 
times  more  hp  spoke  of  the'se  powders  and  they  might  do  thus  and  so 


LOVE  POWDERS,  ETC. 


93 


but  said  he  one  thing  I  do  know  that  mv  little  nervo  Vibratory  pre- 
ventive will  cause  enemies  to  be  friends  make  five  dollars  look  like 
ten  cause  a  witness  to  give  evidence  just  as  you  wish  cause  men  to 
talk  or  prevent  irom  talking  look  at  a  woman'she  would  be  bound  to 
luve  youan'l  20  more  things  perhaps  Yet  not  uecessiy  to  relate  let  it 
sufllce  to  say  he  sent  twj  little  pieces  of  tin  with  teeth  liKe  a  siw 
tied  togather  with  a  bit  ot  c>pper'  wire  for  2$  &  altno  he  s.iid  if  it 
did  not,  perform  all  these  miguty  things  and  I  was  dissat  stied  with 
its  pei  formaace  he  would  re  und  the  money  by  return  mail  I  sent 
hm  the  tin  to  fool  Somebody  else  with  he  can  make  &  2  more  with  it 
ho  kept  the  money  tho  and  sent  me  a  verry  insolent  letter  and  Wil- 
fully Lied  denying  and  contradicting  the  verry  sircular  he  sent 
which  I  have  and  can  produce  at  any  time  Now  Doctor  if  you  are 
not  afraid  to  trust  me  for  one  dollar  send  me  one  package  of  powders 
and  if  it  acts  well  111  send  Your  money  double  amount  as  soon  as  I 
can  give  it  a  trial  111  not  be  like  Andrews  was  with  me  if  you  cant 
trust  me  I  dont  see  Why  I  can  trust  you  for  I  hive  got  out  of  tnat 
notion  pretty  much  Leal  Stevens  P  M  Ritchie  C  H  Va" 

Dr.  Jacques  would  not  send  the  powders  till  the  $2  had  been  re- 
ceived ;  so  Postmaster  Stevens  sent  the  money,  and  in  return  re- 
ceived a  two  ounce  package  of  wheat  Jivur.  lie  believes  now  that 
doctors  are  all  humbugs. 

A  great  many  little  books  are  published  professing  to  teach  the 
"  certain  way'-"  of  winning  lovers  ad  UbUum;  but  they  are  generally 
mere  catch-pennie3— made  up  of  stale  proverbs — silly,  commonplace 
advice,  and  are  vehicles  lor  advertising  the  authors'  nostrums, 
"  beauiifiers,"  &c.  As  the  object  of  these  pages  is  to  preserve  you 
from  gull-traps,  we  advise  you  not  to  send  a  penny  lor  one  of  these 
"  secret  of  love"  publications,  unless  it  is  issued  by  a  wdl-Knoivu,  rt- 
spedub  e  firm. 

A  man  calling  himself  E.  F.  Mayo  wants  to  humbug  the  public  by 
selling  them  "Secret  Charms."  He  says  they  are  in  liquid  form, 
prepared  from  certain  roots,  and  are  to  be  rubbed  on  the  hands  and 
forehead,  ''as  the  forehead  is  the  grand  center  of  thought  and  feel- 
ing together  with  the  five  senses  of  the  human  systain"  including 
taking  and  hearing  of  cour.-e!  These  wonderful  liquids  "make 
you  as  it  were  a  telegraphic  battery  to  send  out  and  receive  coin- 
municalions  of  thought!  "  For  all  these  wonderful  preparations  ho 
wants  fifteen  dollars,  which  fools,  and  fools  only,  will  perhaps  send 
him.  and  buy  hard  experience. 

Within  the  last  few  months  circulars  have  been  sent  to  young  men 
thr< u 'bout  the  country, by  what  purports  to  be  the  "  Photographic 
Union,"  requeuing  them  to  forward  photographs  and  biographical 
sketches  of  their  female  acquaintances,  and  ottering  prizes  to  those 
sending  the  largest  number.  The  object,  according  to  the  state- 
ments of  the  "  Lnion,"  is  to  form  a  gallery,  where  persons  will  be 
admitted  for  a  consideration,*  to  examine  portraits  and  biographies, 
for  the  purpose  of  selecting  partners.  The  whole  thing  is' a  flinty 
cheat,  and  no  one  blessed  with  common  sense  will  be  taken  in 
by  it. 


i 


94 


ROGUERIES  OF  NEW  YORK. 


CHAPTER  XXL 

SWINDLING   DIPOS^IBTLlTrES — HOW   TO    BE  OUE    INVISIBLE — AGRICUL- 
TURAL PROPHtTd— TUAN'SMUIATI  ON. 

It  has  been  said  by  some  one  that  the  more  impossible  a  thing 
was  the  more  people  would  believe  it  possible.  A  long  time  ago  a 
man  advertised  in  London  that  he  would,  on  a  certain  evening, 
enter  a  pint  bottle.  Of  course  such  a  thing  could  not  he  done,  yet 
thousands  collected  to  see  the  feat  performed.  Equally  absurd 
humbugs  are  successfully  carried  on  even  at  this  enlightened  day, 
and  we  presume  will  be,  in  spite  of  what  we  can  say.  Many  persons 
are  induced  to  patronize  these  swindlers  "  out  of  curiosity"— they 
"knew  it  was  a  humbug,  but  wanted  to  see  how  it  was  done."  To 
those  who  wish  to  be  swindled  we  have  nothing  to  say,  but  those 
who  may  be  tempted  to  believe  the  stories  these  bcounarels  tell,  ire 
would  warn  against  sending  money,  under  any  circumstances,  to 
any  one  who  offers  to  perform  what  is.  considered,  by  persons  of 
common  sense,  an  impossibility. 

Some  time  ago  a  self-styled  M.  D.,  hailing  from  this  city,  flooded 
the  country  with  circulars,  offering,  among  other  things,  to  send  any 
one  who  would  inclose  three  dollars  to  his  address  (merely  as  a 
guarantee  of  good  faith,  of  course),  a  ring  composed  of  the  purest 
gold,  which  possessed,  in  addition  to  its  intrinsic  value,  the  power 
to  render  the  possessor  invisible.  The  "  Doctor"  stated  that  he 
would  only  send  the  jewel  to  those  promising  to  "  ma'-  e  a  good  use 
of  it."  Whether  all  who  sent  intended  to  make  a  laudable  use  of 
the  article  or  not,  we  are  unable  to  say  -  certain  it  is  that  the  adver- 
tiser received  a  large  number  of  orders,  and  the  candidates  for  "  in- 
visibility," if  they  received  any  rings  at  all,  probably  found  them 
composed  of  a  material,  perhaps  as  useful,  but  certainly  not  as  val- 
uable as  gold.  Whatever  they  did  receive,  we  are  confident  they 
found  the  article  powerless  to  alter  their  visible  forms.  However 
they  found  themselves,  we  imagine  in  no  case  did  they  find  the  money 
anything  else  than  invisible. 

Another  individual,  possessing  about  as  much  honesty  as  the 
u  medical  gentleman"  aforesaid,  recently  advertised  a  lecture  in  a 
certain  place,  on  "  Unsuspected  Wonders,"  or  some  subject  of  the 
kind,  and  proposed  to  make  himself  invisible  to  the  audience  and 
yet  remain  in  the  room,  with  nothing  to  obstruct  the  view  of  any 
one  present.  A  large  audience  and  a  large  haul  of  currency  greeted 
the  lecturer  on  the  evening,  and  after  a  short  discourse,  the  gentle- 
man stated  that  he  would  now  "  make  himself  invisible,  and  totally 
disappear,  without  leaving  the  rostrum."  Of  course  all  was  expec- 
tation. The  lecturer  stepped  back  a  little  and  turned  of  the  gas,  ex- 
tinguishing the  lights,  and  making  the  hall  u  as  dark  as  Egypt." 
The  audience  made  the  best  of  their  way  to  the  street,  being  unable 
in  the  darkness  to  mete  out  to  their  entertainer  the  reward  that  was 
justly  his  due.   As  soon  as  the  coast  was  clear  the  scientific  gentle- 


SWINDLING  IMPOSSIBILITIES,  ETC. 


man,  with  carpet-bag  and  spoils,  made  tracks  for  another  part  of 
the  country— no  doubt  feeling  that  a  protracted  stay  in  that  location 
might  prove  unhealthy. 

If  any  of  our  readers  are  anxious  to  "  be  invisible"  we  recommend 
them  to  try  the  last  experiment — if  any  wish  to  be  swindled  as  well 
as  make  fools  of  themselves,  we  advise  them  to  inclose  three  dollars 
to  the  "  Doctor." 

A  writer  in  the  Clikagp  Inbunc,  in  a  long  communication,  claims  to 
have  discovered  an  infallible  method  of  determining  between  the 
middle  of  October  and  the  middle  of  February  of  each  year,  what 
will  be  the  success  of  the  wheat  crop  of  the  following  season.  He 
professes  to  have  tested  bis  theory  for  thirteen  years  past,  and  found 
it  infallible.  He  modestly  claims  to^  predict  with  certainty  only 
concerning  the  "  territory  west  of  Lake  Michigan,  and  north  of  forty- 
olc  degrees,  and  to  some  extent  south  of  that  line,  but  would  not 
be  so  sure,  as  the  effects  of  those  causes  disappear  as  you  go  south." 
What  becomes  of  the  causes  after  the  effects  have  disappeared,  we 
are  not  informed.  This  individual  proposes  to  impart  this  informa- 
tion for  sixty  dollars,  or  thirty  dollars  each  year  for  two  years,  or 
ten  dollars  a  year  for  ten  years  ;  at  the  end  of  that  time  the  key  of 
the  guide  will  be  given ;  but  all  necessary  information  will  be 
given  before  the  seeding  time  of  each  year,"  etc.  He  oracularly 
says  "  this  year  is  indicated  by  those  causes  to  be  an  extreme  one  — 
either  very  large,  or  very  small.  Immediately  after  seeding  time  I 
will  state  which."  Seeding  time  is  past,  but  we  have  not  yet  seen 
the  promised  statement.  This  man  may  sincerely  believe  he  can  do 
what  be  professes  j  we  do  not,  and  advise  our  readers  to  remain 
incredulous  and  save  their  money. 

A  "doctor"  (who  would,  we  imagine,  be  at  a  loss  to  tell  how  ho 
became  entitled  to  his  title  of  If.  D.,)  sends  out  circulars  from  New 
York  City  soliciting  agents  to  sell  the  British  Metallic  Mutual  As- 
sociation Transmutater's  Guide.  There's  something  in  thai  name, 
surely.  It  is  said  to  be  the  most  complete  exposition  of  ancient 
Alchemy  ever  published,  "  contains  important  information  to  bank- 
ers, merchants,  farmers,  mechanics,  clerks,  laborers — in  fact  the 
most  important  information  to  every  one  ever  brought  to  light  from 
the  Hidden  Storehouse  of  Nature,  being  a  sure  fortune  to  all  who 
possess  a  copy  of  this  work,  and  practise,  as  laid  down  in  the  simple 
receipts  in  the  Guide."  Then  for  the  inevitable  one  dollar  extra, 
"  a  person  may  become  a  member  of  the  Society  and  enjoy  all  the 
rights,  benefits,"  &c.  You — the  reader — are  a  sensible  person. 
If  you  could  make  in  some  way  S10  or  $100  a  day,  would  you 
advertise  to  sell  your  secret  for  fifty  cents  or  a  dollai^?  Could  you 
transmute  base  metals  to  gold,  would  you  sell  your  secret  for  one 
dollar,  or  would  you  make  all  the  gold  you  needed  yourself  first, 
and  dispose  of  the  "  secret"  afterwards  ?  We  can  tell  the  reader 
how  to  make  two  dollars  in  connection  with  this  concern.  Just 
keep  your  money  ;  it  will  be  clear  gain  ;  the  "  transmutation"  con- 
sists in  transferring  cash  from  the  pockets  of  the  credulous  to  those 
of  a  "  sharp  practitioner."  If  any  choose  to  invest  in  the  scheme, 
will  they  please  inform  us  when  they  are  successful ;  we  desire  to  be 
present  "  when  the  laugh  comes  in." 


96 


ROGUERIES  OP  NEW  YORK. 


CHAPTER  XXII. 

SITUATION    AGENCIES  —  BUSINESS    CHANCES  — AGENT8      WANTED— FOR- 
TUNES CHEAP,  ETC. 

The  frequency  with  which  villianies  appear  in  the  columns  of  the 
daily  press,  makes  them  almost  cease  to  be  remarked.  We  are  apt 
to  forget  that  anybody  can  be  duped  by  them,  and  that  a  continued 
caution  is  necessary  to  keep  the  simple  and  unwary  on  their  guard. 
The  persistence  with  which  the  rogues  follow  up  this  trick  for  rais- 
ing the  wind,  shows  that  they*  must  find  a  good  many  victims.  It  is 
a  shame  that  such  transparent  humbuggery  cannot  be  stopped.  The 
class  that  suffer  is  a  very  large  and  important  one,  and  its  interests 
certainly  deserved  to  be  looked  after  by  our  law-makers.  It  is  the 
class  of  hard  workers  with  small  means— persons  whose  necessities 
and  whose  desire  of  bettering  their  condition  are  so  great  that  they 
fall  readily  into  the  snares  of  these  specious  scoundrels.  Many  of 
the  well  to-do  in  the  world  would  think  there  was  no  great  tempta- 
tion in  such  an  advertisement  as  the  following  : 

"  Wanted,  two  young  men  to  go  to  Savannah  as  clerks  in  a  grocery 
and  shoe  store  ;  wages  $100  a  month.  Answer  in  own  handwriting, 
stating  reterence.  Inclose  50  cents  to  pay  for  advertisement.  Address 
♦  Merchant,'  Box  9,999  New  York  Post  Office.   Postage  paid." 

A  man  at  his  ease,  and  out  of  want,  sees  this  swindle,  of  course,  at 
first  glance,  and  wonders  that  anybody  else  can  fail  to  do  so.  But 
the  fact  is,  the  eager  hope  that  the  tempting  offer  excites  and  blinds 
the  victims  to  its  plain  indications  of  dishonesty.  A  few,  perhaps, 
are  naturally  so  simple  as  to  be  unable  to  see  the  snare  ;  and  some 
half  suspecting  the  humbug,  nevertheless  conclude  to  risk  the  little 
sum,  in  view  of  the  great  value  of  the  situation,  should  it  happen  to 
be  obtained.  But  great  numbers  catch  at  the  tempting  offer  with 
scarcely  a  suspicion  of  its  deception.  1  Thus  the  money  goes  a  little 
from  each  one,  and  their  hard  earnings  form  in  the  aggregate  a  hand- 
some premium  for  roguery.  The  sums  individually  lost  are  too 
small  to  lead  any  of  the  victims  to  prosecute  the  swindler,  and  it  be- 
comes therefore  the  duty  of  the  public  prosecutor  to  take  the 
matter  in  hand  as  a  measure  of  public  benefit  and  necessity.  A  few 
examples  made  of  the  offenders  would  check  the  most  flagrant  part 
of  this  rascality  at  once.  By  the  assistance  of  the  Post-Office  clerks, 
detection  is  very  easy.  It  has  been  done  on  various  occasions,  and 
all  that  is  necessary  is  that  the  action  be  followed  up. 

A  swindle  of  this  kind  has  just  been  detected  in  the  Newark  Post- 
office,  accidentally,  however,  because  the  rogue  had  the  impudence 
to  have  his  letters  sent  to  another  man's  letter-box.  Answers  to  his 
advertisement  came  pouring  in  from  that  and  other  cities,  and  the 
scamp  presented  himself  and  was  about  to  come  into  a  handsome 
amount  "  to  pay  for  advertisement,"  when  the  post-master  dashed 
his  prospects  by  refusing  to  give  up  the  letters  without  a  written 


TUATION  AGENCIES,  ETC. 


97 


order  from  the  owner  of  the  box.  The  latter  applied  at  the  offk  e 
for  hi3  mail  a  short  time  after,  when  the  fraud  was  at  once  made 
apparent  Many  of  the  letters  contained  the  desired  fifty  cents  ;  a 
considerable  number  of  them  were  evidently  written  by  persons  in 
needy  circumstances,  anxious  to  secure  the  promised  lucrative  posi- 
tion. The  owner  of  the  box  caused  the  money  all  to  be  returned  to 
the  parties  sending  it 

One  of  the  writers  fathomed  the  design  of  the  advertiser,  and  sent 
the  following  amusing  and  pertinent  reply  : 

"Newabk,  Feb.  1,  1865.— Box  711— Noticing  your  advertisement,  1 
would  reply  that  I  can  bring  good  recommendation  from  my  former 
employer.  I  have  been  selling  salve  at  fifty  cents  a  box,  and  as  I 
sold  the  last  one  on  credit,  I  am  unable  to  enclose  the  money  as  re- 
quested. I  have  also  had  some  experience  in  the  Flat  and  Jackass 
line,  and  should  you  employ  me,  I  think  I  could  sell  you  for  the  latter 
in  a  very  short  time ;  and  if  you  are  successful  in  buying  Flats  at 
fifty  cents  apiece  (and  I  am  somewhat  a  Flat  myself,  though  not  to  be 
bought  for  that  sum),  I  think  I  should  be  able  to  sell  all  that  you  buy 
at  an  advance  of  twenty-five  per  cent,  at  least.  Should  you  need  my 
services,  address  Timothy  Shad,  Curb  Stone  Place,  Goose  Hollow,  or 
any  other  man." 

Among  the  advertisements  of  a  newspaper,  none  are  more  eagerly 
read  than  those  under  the  head  of  "  Business  Chances."  How  many 
young  men,  dissatisfied  with  the  routine  of  their  ordinary  business, 
or  anxious  to  obtain  employment  by  which  unusually  large  profits 
may  be  had,  eagerly  scan  the  notices  of  "  partner  wanted,'''  "  situa- 
tions," u  agents  wanted,"  etc  The  following  is  a  sample  of  the 
notices  often  t«  be  met  with : 

u  To  any  young  man  with  a  caf»h  capital  of  $300,  an  excellent  chance 
is  offered  fur  engaging  in  a  light,  agreeable  and  lucrative  business, 
whereby  a  handsome  yearly  profit  can  be  made.  Young  men  who 
have  no  friends  m  the  city  will  find  this  a  quick  and  pleasant  means  of 
securing  an  easv  and  paying  business  ready  made  to  their  hand. 
For  further  particulars,  address,"  <tc,  &c. 

The  author  of  that  advertisement  is  a  swindler,  and  if  you  should 
have  anything  to  do  with  him,  the  u  little  capital"  which  you  have 
"  saved  up"  would  soon  be  where  you  would  never  see  "  ary  red" 
of  it  again.  We  warn  our  readers  against  these  traps  for  "  young 
men  tcno  have  no  friends  in  the  ciVy."  Will  men  never  learn  that  there 
w  not,  and  can  not  be,  any  easy  way  to  "  a  handsome  yearly  profit" 
from  the  very  start,  in  any  business  whatever  ? 

Our  country  friends  will  very  often  see  fine  openings  for  young 
men  in  the  city,  especially  those  who  have  a  few  hundred  dollars  to 
invest  Let  us  tell  them,  once  for  all,  that  999  in  every  1000  of 
these  offers  are  humbugs.   We  give  two  illustrations  : 

A  few  days  ago  an  u  Employment  Agency"  advertised  for  a  clerk 
in  an  oil  company  in  Pennsylvania,  at  $800  a  year,  etc  A  young 
man  just  over  from  England  applied,  and  was  told  that  for*$6  he 
could  secure  the  place.  He  paid  the  money,  or  so  much  as  he  had, 
and  was  told  that  the  President  of  the  Companv  was  coming  to  the 
city  on  the  following  Monday,  and  would  call  for  him.   The  young 


98 


ROGUERIES  OP  NEW  YORK. 


man  called  on  Monday,  but  found  no  one  in  (probably  fifty  others 
had  paid  for  the  place,  and  were  told  to  call  in  the  same  way,  but 
on  some  other  day  or  hour.)  The  young  man  called  again  and 
again,  and  finally  watched  the  door  all  one  day,  and  at  last  caught 
the  swindler  in.  He  plead  absence  from  sickness,  and  showed  a 
bogus  letter  from  the  "  President,"  saying  he  had  been  detained  by 
important  busines  but  would  come  soon.  The  young  man  called 
day  after  day  with  the  same  result,  and  finally  becoming  impatient, 
used  some  harsh  words,  when  the  man  ordered  him  out,  threatening 
that  if  one  word  more  was  said,  he  would  have  him  arrested  for 
assault,  and  swear  him  into  prison.  The  swiudler  had  found  that 
his  victim  was  a  timid  stranger,  and  got  rid  of  him  thus ;  and  by 
similar  subterfuges,  he  probably  pocketed  $500  from  a  hundred 
victims,  in  less  than  a  month  ;  and  thus  the  game  goes  on.  The 
victims  are  strangers  ;  their  first  experience  makes  them  afraid  to 
trust  anybody,  and  they  refuse  to  appear  even  as  witnesses,  if  any 
one  happens  to  find  out  their  case  and  offers  to  aid  them. 
The  following  letter  explains  itself : 

u  To  the  Editor  of  the  American  Agriculturist : 

"  As  a  warning  to  others  allow  me  to  give  your  readers  a  little  of 
my  experience,  if  you  suppress  mv  name.  I  am  a  farmers's  eon  ot 
Western  New  York — have  devoted  most  of  my  spare  hours  to  books, 
and  learned  but  little  of  t!ie  "vays  of  the  world."  I  came  East  to 
college  with  but  a  small  sura  to  carry  me  through,  and  by  boarding 
myself  and  earning  what  I  can  in  vacations,  hope  to  complete  my 
course.  As  the  winter  vacation  was  approaching,  I  was  casting 
about  for  something  to  do,  when  I  saw  the  lollowing  advertisement 
published  in  a  New  York  daily  paper : 

A GOOD  CHANCE  FOR  A  YOUNG  MAN.— A  FINE  EXHIBITION  OF 
works  of  art  is  nearly  ready.  A  youog  man  is  wanted  for  the  winter  to  assist 
in  explanations  and  in  attending  at  the  door.  One  preferred  with  $300,  to  be  used 
under  his  own  direction,  in  completing  some  final  purchases  of  materials  which  he 
can  retain  until  reimbursed.  As  security,  he  will  have  charge  of  the  exhibition 
works,  which  are  worth  $8,000,  and  he  will  also  have  the  care  of  all  the  money 
receipts.  Salary  $100  a  month  and  expenses,  or  if  preferred,  a  part  interest. 
Call  on,  &c. 

«*  As  I  had  just  $300  left,  this  seemed  to  be  a  good  opening  for  me. 
So  I  hastened  to  New  York,  and  called  as  directed.  I  found  a  very 
bland  man,  who  was  exceedingly  patronizing,  and  who,  under 
the  plea  of  learning  my  qualifications,  drew  out  my  personal  history. 
He  decided  I  was  just  the  man  he  wanted.  He  showed  me  a  printed 
handbill  (but  I  could  not  get  a  copy  to  keep,)  setting  lorth  a  magnifi- 
cent exhibition.  He  made  very  ingenious  excuses  for  not  showing 
me  the  works  that  day,  and  for  wanting  the  money  at  a  given  time. 
On  my  insisting  upon  seeing  them,  he  took  me  into  one  ot  the  largest 
Picture  Galleries,  and  named  a  dozen  fine  paintings  as  belonging  to 
his  outfit,  which  (he  said)  had  been  left  there  temporarily  by  special 
request.  On  my  pressing  him  further  to  show  me  the  chief  objects, 
he  led  me  arouud  through  several  streets,  and  finally  stopped  before 
a  large  building  closed  up.  Ho  knocked  violently  but  no  one  answer- 
ed; he  went  round  the  building  hastily,  and  soon  after  came  back 
with  the  statement  that  his  artists  had  all  gone  off  on  a  target  excur- 
sion without  mentioning  it  to  him  He  then  went  into  a  rapturous 
description  of  what  was  inside  of  those  closed  doors.  On  our  way 


SITUATION  AGENCIES,  ETC. 


99 


bnck,  he  invited  me  to  dinner  at  a  splendid  saloon,  and  on  going  out, 
felt  for  his  pocketrbook  to  pay,  but  unfortunately  he  had  "  changed 
his  pa-its,  and  left  his  purse"— wanted  me  to  pay ,  and  he  would  seuie 
it  at  his  room.  I  stood  it,  but  my  eyes  were  open  by  this  tim3.  I 
had  two  hours  before  tre  evening  boat,  and  during  this  time  he 
exercised  his  utmost  ingenuity  to  get  a  bonus  towards  the  J300 
(which  I  did  not  refuse  to  p:iy,  until  I  felt  myself  safely  out  or*  bis 
influence).  At  last,  when  about  to  start,  1  told  him  I  chould  keep 
my  money.  He  then  went  off  into  a  very  high  strain  <>f  injured  inno- 
cence— accused  me  of  using  up  his  whole  day,  and  demanded  $10  i<>r 
his  time — "  a  hundred  d>  liars  would  not  pay  him."  He  claimed  I 
had  agreed  to  invest  the  money  early  in  the  day,  and  caller'  upon  an 
apparently  unconcerned  man,  who  had  been  near  us  sever.il  limes, 
who  at  once  said  he  would  swear  I  did  positively  so  agree.  The  two 
tried  hard  to  scare  me  out  of  $25,  then  $10.  I  was  a  stranger  in  a,  to 
me,  strange  city,  and  lelt  a  little  nervous,  as  I  hardly  knew  ihe  way 
to  the  steamboat.  One  of  the  m  started  off  saying  he  was  going  round 
the  corner  for  a  warrant,  and  that  I  could  not  leave  the  city  until  I 
had  made  it  right  with  him.  I  started,  however,  one  of  them  follow- 
ing me,  crowding  me  and  trying  to  frighten  me.   Seeing  a  pnlicem  in 

I  quickened  my  steps  and  called  for  his  protection.  Just  then  the 
chaps  disappeared  round  the  corner,  and  I  got  to  the  stearahoat, 
arrived  at  my  room  the  next  morning,  minus  two  days  time,  and  }9 
exponses,  but  a  much  wiser  young  man.  I  give  you  in  outline,  a 
statement  of  facts — hoping  others  may  become  wiser  at  less  expense. 
— Yours,"  &o. 

The  desire  to  u  make  money"  without  work,  is  an  inherent  princi- 
ple of  human  nature.  In  these  days  of  marvelous  hoops  and  Patent 
Baby  Consolers  ;  of  Shanghai  coats  and  Patent  Mowing  Machines, 
the  young  ladies  won't  work,  and  the  young  men  had  rather  not ! 

II  Light  genteel  employment"  only,  is  desired,  and  none  at  all  if 
u  money"  can  be  made  without.  As  there  are  always  persons  simple 
enough  to  believe  there  are  "  fortunes  for  $1,"  there  are  also  scamps 
enough  to  foster  such  a  belief  by  those  advertisements  you  see  in 
the  papers,  some  specimens  of  which  we  present  in  this  section. 
Almost  invariably,  these  immense  fortunes  are  to  be  made  by  ped- 
dliug  recipes,  impression  paper,  or  some  quack  nostrum. 

In  one  chapter  on  Love  Powders,  we  mentioned  a  certain  Dr. 
Hankinson.  In  addition  to  his  powder  business,  the  doctor  is 
anxious  to  dispose  of  numerous  recipes,  by  which,  according  to  Am 
statement,  "  thousands  of  the  old  and  young,  cf  both  sexes,  can  lind 
employment,  and  gain  riches." 

1.  Recipe  for  making  Artificial  Honey  ;  price  $2. 

2.  (A  sine  fortune  ")  Recipe  for  making  Fire-prcof  paint;  price 
ten  dollars." 

3.  Recipe  for  making  Tndia  Ink  ;  price  $5. 

4.  Learn  of  him  how  to  become,  in  a  week's  time,  a  skillful  engraver 
on  steel  =<nd  enpper;  this  knowledge  for  $6. 

Dr.  Hankinson  is  certain  you  will  become  wealthy  by  paying 
him  $22  for  the  above  recipes,  which  are  to  be  found  in  nearly  all 
"  Household  Recipe  Books."  He  says  he  wants  to  have  people 
name  him  "  as  a  benefactor  ;"  his  ambition  is  to  have  a  rlth  man 
say,  as  he  travels  in  kis  own  carriage,  "  Five  years  ago  I  was  poor  ; 


100 


ROGUERIES  OF  NEW  YORK. 


now  I  am  wealthy,  thanks  to  Dr.  Eankinson    — wealthy  in  five 

years  by  peddlmg  recipes  I 

WHY  BE  WITHOUT  MONEY?  WHEN  IT  IS  JUST  AS  EASY  FOR 
any  oue  to  be  around  witu  a  pocket  tuil  as  nut.  if  tuey  ouly  tniuk  so.  I 
have  goc  a  new  article,  from  winch  lio.n  live  to  twenty  dollars  a  day  can  be  made 
eitiier  oy  male  or  female.  It  is  a  hignly  respectable  business  aiid  aii  art.cle  which 
is  wanted  in  every  family  in  the  Uuued  States.  Enclose  me  two  dollars  oy  mail, 
at  my  nsa,  aud  1  will  forward  by  return  mail  a  Circular,  with  full  instruct* o'.s  in 
tho  art  'ihe  business  is  very  easy.  Try  it,  if  you  are  out  of  employment,  9nd 
you  will  never  regret  it ;  for  it  wilJ  be  better  for  you  to  pay  the  aoove  sum,  aud 
insure  a  good  business,  than  to  pay  twenty-five  cents  for  a  spurious  advertisement. 
Ihis  is  no  humbug.  Try  it !  Tar  IT  I  TRY  IT  1  Address  your  letters  to— — 
New  York. 

The  above  was  published  in  quite  a  number  cf  New-England 
papers.  It  is  ridiculously  flimsy,  and  evidently  the  production  of 
some  "  hard  up'"  ignoramus.  The  verJ.ants  who  can  be  "  sold"'  by 
such  an  advertisement,  would  make  money  by  exhibiting  themselves 
at  "  ten  cents  a  show  !" 

TIT  ANTED  500  MEN  TO  ACT  AS  AGENTS  IN  A  BUSINESS,  LIGHT, 
If  pleasant,  aud  honorable,  at  a  salary  of  SiCO  per  mouth,  i  or  lull  particulars 
in  regard  to  the  business,  inclose  postage  stamp,  and  address 

H.  B.  CARTER,  Havervill,  Mass. 

$103  a  month  man  be  good  pay  for  peddling  bogus  lottery  tickets, 
but  the  money  in  this  case  was  not  to  find  us  way  inio  tUe  uye>.0& 
pocket.  When  men  desire  to  engage  your  service  to  help  cheat 
others,  you  may  be  sure  they  also  meditate  cheating  you. 

£onn   WANTED— AN  AGENT  IN   EVERY  COUNTY  IN  THE 

fp oUUi  Union,  for  an  article  commanding  large  sales.  Salary  first  year,  $600 
and  a  small  commission.  On  receipt  of  2d  cents  to  delray  expenses,  a  sample  of 
of  article  and  full  particulars  sent.  Address 

"DR.  SHEPPAED,"  New  York. 

The  counties  in  the  Union  number  nineteen  hundred,  and  fSOO 
per  year  to  an  agent  in  each,  would  amount  to  something  like 
« 1,250,000  !  which  snug  little  sum  the  adverti  er  declared  his  anxiety 
to  disburse,  besides  '■commission!^  And  twenty-five  cents  lrom 
one  agent  in  a  counly  would  have  amounted  to  475,  which  the 
"Dr."  was  exceedingly  desirous  to  pocket;  but  didn't,  as  some 
hard-hearted  person,  wuom  he  swindled,  reported  the  enterprising 
Dr.,  and  the  police  spoilt  his  business. 

8'aa  TO  S1.C00  A  YEAR.  SURE— 10.400  COPIES  SOLD  IN  16 
0UU    months.    Address  (with  two  stamps),  &c.  . 

Clear  as  mud.  Six  cents  from  all  the  greenies,  would  probably 
make  the  "  *500  to  ?  1,000  a  year,  sine." 

Q~>  nnn  A  YEAR  AXD  N0  RISK.— I  am  now  making  over 

0  SjUUU  this  amount,  in  the  prosecution  of  a  business,  full  instruction  in  which, 
with  a  sample.  I  propose  to  send  to  any  lady  or  gentlemen  on  receipt  of  one  dollar. 
Any  one  who  cau  raad.  can  do  as  well  as  I  am  doing,  as  it  is  new,  respectable, 
and  takes  wherever  introduced.  MRS.  New  Madrid,  Mo. 

Our  experience  has  shown  us  that,  as  a  general  thing,  persons 
who  have  a  business  paying  large  profits  prefer  to  keep  it  to  them- 
selves.  It  seems  hardly  profitable  to  set  people  up  in  opposition, 


SEWING  MACHINE  SWINDLES. 


101 


for  the  small  sum  of  one  dollar.    Mrs.   's  income,  we  imagine, 

consists  of  what  she  is  able  to  sponge  out  cf  those  simple  enough  to 
believe  her  statements. 

A FEW  GENTLEMEN  WANTED— TO  MAKE  $6  A  DAY  BY  A 
small  investment  Those  desiring  to  know  that  such  an  opportunity  is  a  fact, 
and  who  wish  employment,  will  be  fully  informed  by  calling  on  (A.  CArcHl'EX- 
HT,  Es<^.)  New  York,  or  by  addressing  a  letter  containing  L2£  cents  in  money  or 
stamps. 

A  very  liberal  catchpenny !  Only  12 J  cents  demanded  for  in- 
forming i(  a  tew  gentlemen"  that  they  can  make  two  thousand  dol- 
lars a  year  by  peddling  patent  rat  traps! 

Remember  that  the  hundreds  of  similar  advertisements  you  see  in 
the  papers  are  all  swindles,  and  that  any  money  sent  to  the  adven- 
turers will  be  so  much  thrown  away,  without  any  benefit  received 
in  return. 

Another  thing  : — Dout  come  to  the  city  in  search  of  a  situation. 
Hundreds,  yes  thousands,  of  the  unemployed  of  almost  every  known 
calling,  are  always  here  waiting  for  a  "  chance.'  Don't  come  and 
add  to  the  number.  It  a  sanation  has  not  already  been  secured  to 
you,  and  you  have  no  friends  here,  ifay  away,  and  be  spared  all  the 
expense  and  disapp ointment  of  a  bootless  journey  here. 


CHAPTER  XXHL 

SEWING  MACUINE  SWINDLES. 

• 

This  i9  probably  one  of  the  most  thoroughly  worked,  and  most 
successful  swindle  that  is  carried  on.  The  common  mode  of  work- 
ing it  is  thus  :  Parties  advertise  for  agenls  to  sell  machines  at  a 
salary  of  from  seventy-five  to  one  hundred  and  titty  dollars  a  month 
and  "  expenses  paid."  Should  you  send  for  a  circular,  as  the  ad- 
vertisers request,  you  will  find  in  them  splendid  inducements  held 
out,  statements  of  profits  given,  and  a  large  salary  is  ottered  ;  but, 
every  one  accepting  an  agency  is  required  to  first  buy  one  of  the 
machines  at  the  retail  price,  and  the  promise  is  made  that  the  dis- 
count for  wholesale  shall  be  refunded  at  the  next  purchase.  It  is 
also  stipulated  that  the  agent  shall  buy  and  sell  the  machines  on  his 
own  accouitt  for  a  time  ''in  order  that  the  advertisers  may  ascertain 
what  his  services  are  worth."  This  is  said  iu  order  to  sneak  out  of 
their  offer  to  pay  a  regular  salary,  for  in  no  case  is  this  their  inten- 
tion. 

Often  these  circulars  are  sent  out  to  those  who  have  not  applied 
for  them,  but  whose  names  the  swindlers  were  enabled  to  obtain. 
Generally,  the  exclusive  right  to  sell  machines  in  a  particular  lo- 
cally is  offered  as  a  special  inducement.  We  recollecc  one  instance 
where  every  man  in  a  certain  village  had  a  u  private"  circular  sent 
him,  inviting  him  to  become  an  agent  for  one  of  these  bogus  con- 


102 


ROGUERIES  OP  NEW  YORK. 


cerns,  and  agreeing  to  give  him  the  exclusive  sale  of  machines  in 
that  place.  So  thoroughly  were  these  circulars  distiibuted  that  the 
matter  was  overdone,  and  when  neighbors  came  to  compare  note3, 
the  humbug  leaked  out.  Some  who  have  caught  at  this  bait  inform 
us  that  they  sent  their  money,  but  have  heard  nothing  further  of  it, 
nor  of  the  promised  machine.  Others  say  the  first  machine,  for 
which  $10  or  more  was  charged,  came  as  directed,  but  it  was  not 
worth  more  than  its  weight  in  old  iron.  Of  course  they  could  make 
nothing  by  acting  as  agents  for  such  trumpery,  and  they  were 
obliged  to  pocket  the  loss.  Well-established  and  reliable  com 
panics  have  their  agents,  but  we  know  of  none  that  send  out  circu- 
lars promising  to  employ  whoever  m?.y  choose  to  engage  in  the 
business.  They  select  their  men  only  after  some  acquaintance  or 
guaraniee  of  fitness.  Beware  of  all  such  gilded  baits  :  they  in- 
variably cover  a  sharper  deal.  It  is  of  little  use  to  correspond  with 
such  establishments.  Let  their  circulars  be  turned  to  account  as 
waste  paper. 

Really  good  machines  are  sometimes  offered  at  less  than  the  prices 
usually  charged  by  first  class  manufacturers.  We  would  caution 
our  readers  to  be  careful  about  investing  in  these  machines.  We 
feel  pretty  safe  in  saying  that  in  all  such  cases  the  machine  is  a 
pirated  one  ;  that  is,  no  license  is  paid  for  the  two  or  three  patents 
involved  in  it,  which  are  owned  by  other  parties  ;  and  however 
well  it  may  perform  its  work,  its  possessor  must  run  the  risk  of 
having  it  seized  at  any  moment  by  those  whose  rights  are  infringed. 
Many  suppose  that  it  is  only  the  man  who  makes  the  machine,  or  the 
seller,  that  is  liable.  This  is  a  mistake  ;  the  machine  can  be  seized 
wherever  found,  and  the  user  is  liable  for  the  infringements  as  well 
as  the  ma^er  or  seller.  A  lady  friend  of  ours  once  purchased  a  sewing 
machine  at  a  very  low  price,  which  she  considered,  quite  a  bargain. 
"  It  was  fully  equal  to  Wheeler  and  Wilson's  machines — almost  ex- 
actly like  them  V  So  very  like  them,  in  fact,  that  within  two 
months  after  it  came  into  her  possession,  the  machine  was  seized  by 
an  agent  of  Wheeler  &  Wilson,  of  whose  patents  it  was  a  gross  viola- 
tion. 


CHAPTER  XXIV. 

PERAMBULATING  SWINDLERS— TREE  TEDDLERS,  ETC. 

In  addition  to  the  sharpers  and  humbugs  who  have  "  a  local  habi- 
tation and  a  (fictitious)  name,"  in  the  large  cities,  and  reach  their 
country  customers  through  the  medium  of  circulars  and  advertise- 
ments, there  are  other  individuals  who  feel  it  a  duty  (to  themselves) 
to  edify  the  rural  population  with  their  presence.  These  same  in- 
dividuals— unlike  the  rolling  stone,  which  gathered  no  moss — man- 
age to  gather  considerable  pecuniary  moss,  as  they  go  from  place  to 
place.    This  class  includes  almost  every  branch  of  industry  (!)  from 


PERAMBULATING  SWINDLERS,  ETC. 


"  consumption  doctors,"  "  astrologists,"  and  **  phrenologists,"  to 
corn  and  bunion  doctors,  and  peddlers  of  bogus  seeds.  For  infor- 
mation in  respect  to  the  former,  see  previous  chapters.  We  will 
give  a  few  examples  of  the  perambulating  humbug,  and  trust  they 
will  be  enough  to  enable  our  readers  to  distinguish  any  of  the  class 
they  may  come  across. 

A  class  of  speculators  are  swarming  through  the  country,  carry- 
ing samples  of  "  wine,"  and  selling  Rhubarb  or  Pie-plant  roots  at 
enormous  prices,  claiming  that  these  roots  wTj,  in  a  single  season, 
produce  several  thousand  dollars  worth  of  "  wine"  to  the  acre.  A 
species  of  alcoholic  liquor  can  be  produced  from  almost  every 
known  plant,  by  fermenting  wiih  the  addition  of  sugar.  The  juices 
of  the  Rhubarb  stems  can  be  used,  and  with  proper  manipulation, 
make  a  passable  liquor,  flavored  somewhat  with  the  plant,  or,  "as 
you  like"  by  the  addition  of  drugs  But  it  is  sheer  humbug  to  claim 
that  a  valuable  high-flavored  "  wine"  can  be  produced  directly  from 
the  Rhubarb.  Nor  can  a  liquor  be  made  which  re  pomibU  parties 
will  contract  for  in  large  quantity  at  $2  per  gallon,  or  even  much 
lower  figures.  Some  of  the  speculators  may  offer  to  take  a  little,  in 
order  to  sell  their  roots.  They  are  buying  up  all  the  Linnaeus  Rhu- 
barb plants  in  the  country,  if  they  have  not  already  done  so,  at 
various  prices,  from  $1.50  to  i3  per  barrel — latterly  at  ^0 — and  at 
$18  to  *50  per  1000  roots,  and  then  working  them  off  as  "wine 
plants,"  at  1-250  to  *400  per  1000 !  It  takes  good  strong  roots  until 
the  second  season  after  planting,  to  produce  a  fair  crop  of  stems.  If 
picked  at  all  the  first  season,  the  roots  will  be  worth  little  the  next 
year.  A  dozen  Rhubarb  roots  in  the  garden  are  valuable  to  yield 
early  pie  material — but  as  a  u  wine  plant"  they  are  of  little  account. 

Farmers  are  every  year  swindled  out  of  large  sums  by  itinerant 
peddlers  of  trees,  vines,  etc.  The  common  mode  of  doing  this  is  to 
show  samples,  take  orders,  and  receive  either  the  whole  or  a  part  of 
the  payment  in  advance.  The  trees  ordered  are  to  be  delivered  at 
such  and  such  a  time  by  the  nursery  which  the  peddler  pretends  to 
represent  In  some  cases  the  articles  ordered  are  actually  delivered, 
but  turn  out  to  be  nearly  or  quite  worthless,  or  of  an  entirely  differ- 
ent variety  from  what  is  desired.  In  other  cases,  no  return  whatever 
is  made  lor  the  money  received,  and  by  the  time  the  victim  discovers 
the  swindle,  the  agent  is  plying  his  dishonest  vocation  hundreds  of 
miles  away.  Of  course  all  agents  for  nurseries  are  not  swindlers  ; 
but  great  caution  should  be  observed,  and  reasonable  guarantees  of 
good  faith  required,  before  trusting  any  straugar. 

Another  method  of  swindling,  much  practiced,  is  the  sale  of 
"  patent-rights."  A  man  offers  to  sell  a  certain  machine,  and  the 
right  to  manufacture  or  sell  the  same  in  some  county,  for  a  certain 
amount*  The  money  is  paid — the  machine  is  to  be  sent  to  the  pur- 
chaser in  a  few  days,  and — nothing  further  is  heard  of  the  "  patent- 
right"  man. 

A  very  sharp  game  was  played  in  the  northern  part  of  New  York 
State,  some  time  since,  by  operators  who  quite  likely  are  now  at 
work  in  other  parts.  An  agent  agrees  to  put  up  lightning  rods  on 
buildings  to  remain  a  year  on  trial.   He  gives  a  written  agreement 


104 


ROGUERIES  OP  NEW  YORK. 


that  if  they  suit  and  are  wanted  at  the  end  of  the  year,  all  right ;  if 

not  he  is  to  remove  them  without  cost  to  the  parties.  He  taKes 
what  he  calls  an  "  Order"  for  the  rods,  but  what  in  reality  is  a 
promissory  note,  which  he  sells  to  the  first  note  broker  that  will  buy. 
In  this  way  thousands  of  dollars  were  taken  from  this  section  of 
country,  and  for  no  really  good  equivalent  returned. 

Look  out  for  the  "  Gas"  Man.  There  is  a  chap  out  West  selling 
the  right  to  "  make  and  use  Olefiant  Gas."  He  charges  only  one 
dollar  for  the  recipe,  which  is  as  follows  :  2  quarts  alcohol,  1  pint 
camphene,  2  ounces  of  alum,  1  teaspoonful  of  "  Cucuma"  liquid. 
Mix,  let  stand  12  hours,  then  use.  This  is  not  gas  at  all,  but  only 
the  old  and  dangerous  burning  fluid  with  alum  added,  and  colored 
by  "  Cucuma,"  which  should  be  Curcuma — but  these  humbugs  are 
generally  illiterate.  At  the  present  price  of  materials,  this  would 
be  a  very  expensive,  as  well  as  a  very  dangerous  light. 

Persons  in  the  country  are  often  cheated  by  parties  who  repre- 
sent themselves  as  travelling  agents  for  magazines  and  newspapers, 
and  often  people  are  induced  to  give  their  money  to  irresponsible 
scamps,  who  have  no  authority  from  the  publishers  they  pretend  to 
represent.  If  any  one  offers  you  a  periodical  at  less  than  the  regu- 
lar price— especially  if  a  "  preminm"  is  offered  as  an  additional  in- 
ducement to  subscribers  in  all  such  cases  it  is  absolutely  necessary, 
in  order  to  secure  yourself  against  risk,  that  you  should  reqmre  the 
agent  to  show  his  certificate  of  agency,  or  other  proof  that  he  is 
authorized  to  obtain  subscribers  for  the  publication.  There  are 
many  perfectly  honest  persons  in  the  canvassing  business,  and  we 
would  not  say  anything  to  injure  them ;  but  they  will  have  no 
trouble  in  proving  their  honesty,  so  our  remarks  will  not  hurt  them. 
Also,  look  out  for  bogus  papers,  of  which  you  will  only  receive  one 
or  two  numbers,  and  will  then  find  your  money  gone  forever. 

Confidence  is  an  excellent  thing  in  any  community.  Some  one 
calls  it  the  ground-plan  of  all  business  transactions.  The  bone  and 
sinew  of  all  dealings  between  man  and  man,  as  Mr.  Micawber  might 
say. 

There  are  certain  pleasant  plays  called  "confidence  games," 
which  are  quite  fashionable  in  cities,  and,  sometimes,  creep  into 
such  quiet  communities  as  Blankville.  Very  few  requisites  are 
needed  to  play  this  game  successfully.  A  well-dressed  man,  with 
a  plausible,  impressive  manner,  a  fluent  tongue,  and  a  well-dis- 
posed, appreciative  class  of  people,  who  are  able  to  keep  a  good 
look  out  for  their  own  interests,  are  all  that  are  needed. 

A  benevolent-looking  individual  visited  Blankville  a  few  months 
ago,  who  was  keenly  alive  to  the  sufferings  of  little  children  who 
cut  their  fingers  and  stub  their  toes,  and  who  was  willing,  for  the 
trifling  consideration  of  fifty  cents,  to  furnish  a  balsam  which  should 
entirely  remove  all  the  pain,  and  prevent  all  subsequent  ill  effects. 
This  was  the  argument  which  he  used  to  win  the  hearts  of  tender 
mothers.   But  this  was  only  his  small  arm  practice. 

He  brought  out  his  heavy  artillery  last.  This  little  tin  box  was 
only  a  ticket,  so  to  speak,  to  a  splendid  lottery  system,  in  which  the 
trifling  prizes  of  jewelry,  silver  spoons  and  forks,  were  cast  quite 


PERAMBULATING  SWINDLERS,  ETC.  105 


into  the  shade  by  the  grand  pianos,  melodeons,  and  gold  watches 
to  which  the  luc  .y  buyers  received  a  title. 

The  grandeur  of  the  scheme  was  only  eclipsed  by  its  impudence. 
But  it  is  said  that  no  statement  can  be  made  so  absurd  that  it  will 
not  find  believers. 

Our  baNam  man  was  setting  forth  the  merits  of  his  cause  to  a 
laborer's  wife,  when  she  told  him  she  was  much  in  want  of  a  blanket 
shawl.  "  If  there  were  blanket  shawls  among  the  prizes,  sae  would 
not  mind  investing." 

There  wire  blanket  shawls  among  the  prizes.  "  Such  an  extensive 
enterprise  as  this,  would  not  leave  out  such  an  important  article." 
And  the  gentleman  felt  almost  injured  by  the  suspicions  that  he  had 
omitted  them.  Twelve  fifty  cent  boxes  would  put  her  down  <  n  the 
shawl  list,  and  most  likely  enable  ber  to  obtain  an  excellent  one 
for  nothing.  And  was  not  the  balsam  itself  worth  double  the  money 
she  paid  for  it  ?   There  were  few  earthly  ills  it  would  not  cure. 

Mrs.  K.  is  a  woman  of  property,  but  none  of  your  shallow-surface 
people,  moved  by  every  frivolous  plea  for  charity.  She  pays  heavy 
taxes,  part  of  which  go  to  support  almshouses  for  the  support  of  all 
paupers.  It  would  be  unreasonable  to  expect  of  her  "  to  pay  fur 
their  support  twice  over."  The  poor  in  the  community  generally 
have  never  received  anything  from  her  that  they  know  of. 

The  plausible  balsam  man  called  on  Mrs.  K.,  and  as  she  hai  no 
children  to  stub  their  toes  or  bruise  their  fingers,  he  made  the  prin- 
ciple point  on  the  prize  piano.  Such  an  article  would  be  about  as 
useful  to  her  as  the  prize  elephant  was,  which  the  man  won,  though 
she  might  not  be  quite  so  puzzled  to  know  what  to  do  with  it.  It 
might  stand  in  silent  grandeur  on  her  brussels  carpet ;  and,  per- 
haps, once  or  twice  a  year  some  visitor  could  play  a  tune  upon  it. 
Ho  a  ever,  a  piano  was  "  portable  property,"  and  Mrs.  K.  was  not  so 
blind  to  her  own  interest  as  not  to  take  one  when  she  could  get  it 
for  nothing.  So  twelve  dollars  and  twenty-four  boxes  changed 
hands  forthwith. 

A  confiding  neighbor  was  dazzled  with  the  glitter  of  a  gold 
watch  and  chain,  and,  though  her  husband  was  out,  she  ventured 
to  invest  ten  dollars  in  the  project.  Her  skeptical  husband  "  did 
not  see  it,"  when  he  cams  home,  and  even  made  light  of  her  specu- 
lation. Her  indignation  was  justly  aroused,  and  she  remarked  with 
spirit : 

"  I  did  mean  to  give  you  that  watch,  but  now  I  shall  not ;  I  shall 
give  it  to  my  brother." 

"  I  hardly  know  where  we  can  put  our  piano,"  said  another  lady, 
glancing  around  the  small  parlor.  Her  hu>band  did  not  seem  much 
exorcised  on  the  matter  ;  at  least,  it  would  be  time  enough  to  build 
on  an  addition  when  it  came. 

To  prevent  all  mistake,  the  man  had  each  lady  write  out  an 
envelope  with  her  address,  and  enclose  ten  cents  to  pay  the  express 
charges  on  the  prizes.  He  had  probably  arranged  with  transporta- 
tion companies  to  forward  his  goods  at  reduced  rates.  Common 
people  cannot  get  their  pianos  shipped  for  ten  cents. 

The  prizes  have  not  come  yet,  but  the  fortunate  owners  of  the 


106 


ROGUERIES  OF  NEW  YORK. 


tickets  look  for  them,  much  in  the  way  that  farmers  look  for  rain 
when  the  almanac  tells  them  to,  "  If  it  does  not  come,  keep  a-look- 
ing." 

On  the  whole,  if  the  salve  man  comes  to  your  town,  it  would  be 
just  as  well  to  give  him  the  cold  shoulder.  Some  think  it  would  be 
hardly  possible  for  the  most  reliable  contraband  to  do  more  lying 
in  a  given  time ;  but  there  are  severe,  censorious  people  in  every 
community. 

As  the  case  now  stands,  the  ladies  of  Blankville  are  qualified  to 
set  up  a  branch  hospital  for  wounded  soldiers,  if  the  Government  is 
so  disposed  ;  they  have  supplies  for  curing  a  regiment  at  least 

Some  meddlesome  individual,  it  is  true,  has  stated  that  the  famous 
balsam  is  composed  of  lard,  beeswax,  and  rosin,  and  that  its  virtues 
are  nearly  equal  to  mutton  tallow  ;  but  such  croakers  are  entitled 
to  no  confidence.  Tbey  are  merely  disappointed  individuals,  who 
did  not  receive  a  call  from  the  dealer,  and  so  wish  to  disparage  his 
wares. 


CHAPTER  XXV. 

CONFIDENCE  GAMES  AND  CONFIDENCE  OPERATORS. 

Under  the  title  of  confidence  games  may  be  included  all  those 
operations  in  which  the  rogue  succeeds  in  fleecing  his  victim  by 
gaining  his  confideace,  and  then  betraying  it.  The  varieties  of 
these  games  are  innumerable,  and  we  can  notice  only  some  of  those 
which  will  serve  as  specimen  cases,  and  show  how  some  persons 
contrive  to  exist  by  their  wits.  Our  readers  have  probably  all 
heard  of  the  well-dressed  females  who  visited  drygoods  stores, 
made  purchases,  and  requested  that  a  clerk  might  accompany  them 
home  to  receive  the  payment.  The  clerk  enters  the  lady's  carriage, 
and  is  driven  to  a  hotel  or  handsome  residence.  The  lady  takes 
the  bundle  into  the  house,  requesting  the  young  man  to  remain  in 
the  carriage  till  her  return  with  the  money.  Growing  impatient  at 
her  delay,  he  enters  the  house  only  to  find  she  has  decamped  by 
another  door. 

A  recent  occurrence  gives  another  example  of  sharp  practice. 
A  man  named  Felix  G.  Fiol  was  arrested  on  a  charge  of  swindling, 
preferred  against  him  by  Mr.  John  Greis,  of  No.  152  Bowery.  It 
seems  that  some  ten  days  before  the  accused  called  at  the  store  of 
the  complainant,  and  representing  himself  to  be  the  Spanish  Consul 
at  Charleston,  S.  C,  ordered  two  suits  of  clothes  and  a  black  dress 
coat.  He  also  stated  that  if  the  clothes  pleased  him,  he  would 
order  a  consuls  uniform  made.  The  garments  were  to  be  finished 
on  the  21st  inst,  and  he  promised  to  pay  the  bill  in  gold  on  the 
19th.  On  the  17th  he  called  upon  Mr.  Greis,  and  stated  that  he 
was  about  to  take  a  ride  with  the  Spanish  Consul  of  this  city,  and 
wished  to  get  a  coat  and  hat,  which  were  procured  for  him  at  an 


ROGUERIES  OF  NEW  YORK. 


expense  of  twenty-five  dollar';.  The  eftawfter  iPiittkutiif,  with  pro- 
voking coolness  and  audacity,  stated  that  he  had  forgotten  his 
pocket-book  at  home,  and  so"  ingratiated  himself  into  the  good 
graces  or  the  confiding  tailor  that  he  loaned  h  m  fifteen  dollars  at 
his  request  A  short  time  after  the  toirdttant  consul  called  at  the 
clothiers,  and  stated  if  the  bill  was  sent  to  Taylor  &  Co..  16  Wall 
street,  a  Mr.  Ross  would  pay  it.  A  messenger  was  despatched  at 
once,  and  h'j  there  learned  that  there  was  no  Mr.  Ross  there,  and 
that  the  Spanish  Consul  did  not  know  his  customer.  He  imme- 
diately came  to  the  conclusion  that  he  had  been  victimized,  and 
meeting  Fiol  soon  after  in  the  street,  he  had  him  arrested. 

A  man  named  Fitzpatrick,  one  of  two  brothers,  running  an  auc- 
tion shop  in  Greenwich  street,  was  arrested  recently  on  the  charge 
of  obtaining  money  under  false  pretences.  The  prosecutor  was  a 
countryman  who  came  to  the  city  to  see  sights,  and  in  wandering 
along  Greenwich  street,  drifted  into  the  auction  store  of  the  Fitz- 
patricks.  He  had  not  beask  in  long  before  a  watch  was  put  up, 
which  was  represented  to  be  a  gold  one.  It  had  all  the  appearance 
of  gold,  and  the  countryman  supposed  it  to  be  one.  He  was  not 
used  to  the  ways  of  large  cities,  and  supposed  he  could  depend 
upon  the  representations'  as  to  the  watch.  Accordingly  he  bid 
upon  it,  and  it  was  run  up  to  twenty  six  dollars,  at  which  sum  it 
was  knocked  down.  The  amount  was  paid  down  and  the  watch 
was  taken.  For  a  few  days  after  it  came  into  the  possession  of  the 
countryman,  it  retained  its  original  brightness.  It  then  began  to 
change  its  color,  and  in  a  little  while  became  almost  black.  It  was 
not  only  not  gold,  but  not  plated,  and  was  as  unmistakably  bogus 
as  possible.  As  soon  as  the  victim  could  get  back  to  the  city,  he 
made  a  complaint,  and  a  warrant  wm  issued.  L  iwrence  Fitzpat- 
rick was  arrested  on  it.  and  on  the  testimony  of  the  countryman 
was  held  to  answer.  His  explanation  was  that  he  sold  the  watch 
as  it  had  been  represented  to  him.  What  right,  we  would  ask,  has 
an  auctioneer  to  represent  and  to  sell  a  watch  as  gold,  unless  he 
knows  it  to  be  so?  It  is  well  known  that  persons  are  now  engaged 
in  buying  up  silver  watches,  and  making  them  to  so  closely  re- 
semble gold  ones  as  to  defy  detection,  unless  a  powerful  acid  is  ap- 
plied. It  is  the  business  of  auctioneers  to  know  something  of  the 
men  for  whom  they  sell  gold  watches,  or  what  are  represented  as 
such. 

A  swindle  was  attempted  in  this  city  some  days  since,  but  proved 
unsuccessful,  notwithstanding  its  ingenuity.  A  fellow  who  looked 
not  unlike  a  down-east  customer,  called  at  F  —  's  Hotel,  and  re- 
presented himself  to  be  from  New  Bedford.  On  the  plea  that  he 
had  fallen  on  the  sidewalk  and  hurt  an  arm,  he  desired  the  clerk  at 
the  hotel  to  write  his  name  on  the  register,  and  William  Roach  was 
put  down.  Soon  after,  on  getting  into  conversation  with  the  bar- 
tender, he  unfolded  to  him  his  plans.  He  was  going,  he  said,  to 
put  an  assorted  cargo  in  a  vessel,  and  he  promised  to  give  the  bar- 
tender the  position  of  supercargo.  Inquiry  was  made  as  to  the 
best  placos  for  purchases.  Filled  with  the  idea  that  his  fortune 
was  made,  the  bar-tender  entered  into  the  matter  with  all  the  zest 


108 


ROGUERIES  OP  NEW  YORK. 


imaginable,  and  it  was  not  long  before  he  and  Roach  were  on  the 

best  of  terms,  as  thick,  in  common  parlance,  as  two  thieves.  As 
Roach  was  in  want  of  some  clothing  (who  is  not?)  he  was  direc'ed 
to  the  store  of  John  S.  Sutton,  and  tbere  he  repaired.  After  select- 
ing about  three  hundred  dollars  worth  of  goods,  he  ordered  them 
sent  to  his  hotel,  and  hurried  olf  to  receive  them.  Before  they 
arrived  he  had  secured  the  services  of  the  supercargo  in  embargo, 
to  write  a  check  for  him,  he  having,  as  he  asserted,  a  lame  arm. 
The  check  was  drawn  on  the  Philadelphia  Bank,  but  as  the  porier 
was  not  willing  to  deliver  the  clothing  on  the  check  until  he  ascer- 
tained something  of  its  character,  he  went  back  to  the  store  to 
know  if  he  should  take  it.  In  the  meanwhile  Roach  disappeared. 
The  check  was  of  course  worthless.  On  the  supposition  that  the 
bar-tender  had  some  knowledge  of  the  intended  swindle  he  was 
arrested,  but  subsequently  discharged. 

A  new  dodge  has  just  been  nipped  in  the  bud  by  a  detective  of 
this  city,  who  arrested  W.  G.  G.  Birdsell  and  John  Gibson,  two 
young  men  having  an  office  and  purporting  to  do  business  at  No. 
80  West  street,  under  copartnership.  The  parties  were  charged 
with  having  swindled  and  attempted  to  swindle  a  number  of  respec- 
table merchants  in  this  city  by  means  of  orders,  some  of  them 
signed  in  the  name  of  their  own  firm,  Birdsell  &  Gibson,  and  some 
of  them  forged  in  the  name  of  other  firms. 

The  plan  was  to  send  an  order  for  sigual  lights,  wrought  spikes, 
etc.,  of  the  most  approved  quality,  the  goods  to  be  delivered  on 
board  some  steamer  designated,  or  at  No.  80  West  street.  The  par- 
ties being  suspected,  Detective  Slowey  was  called  in  and  advised 
that  an  order  for  which  they  had  sent  should  be  filled,  and  he 
would  accompany  the  goods,  which  he  did,  to  No.  80  West  street, 
taking  the  recipients  into  custody.  On  their  persons  he  found  a 
number  of  forged  orders  and  articles  of  copartnership  between 
themselves. 

The  Brooklyn  Union  gives  an  account  of  the  manner  in  which  a 
physician  of  that  city  was  victimized : 

"  Late  on  Sunday  night,  Mr.  Otto  H.  Claus,  residing  at  257  Sackett 
street,  this  city,  was  accosted  in  Tenth  avenue,  New  York,  by  three 
young  men,  who  requested  him  to  accompany  them  a  short  distance 
to  see  a  man  who  was  dangerously  ill.  He  followed  them  into  a 
dilapidated  room  in  a  tenement  house,  and  while  there  administering 
to  a  person  whom  he  supposed  to  be  sick,  but  who  was  really  an 
accomp'ice,  these  three  men  rifled  his  pockets  of  a  gold  watch  and 
chain,  with  which  they  deceamped.  Clause  followed  in  pursuit, 
cryiug  "  watch,"  when  Officer  Kennon,  of  the  Sixteenth  Precinct, 
arrested  one  of  the  men,  who  gave  his  name  as  John  McGinness. 
The  others  escaped,  but  the  police  are  alter  them.  McGinness  was 
arraigned  before  Justice  Ledwith,  and  committed  tor  trial  in  delault 
of  $1  600  bail." 

One  of  the  most  impudent  impostures  we  ever  knew  to  be  at- 
tempted was  tried  in  this  city  on  Sunday  last.  A  fellow  in  the  rig 
of  a  sailor,  with  the  eagle  buttons  on  his  jacket,  presented  himself 
at  the  Union  Volunteer  Refreshment  Saloon,  and  represented  him- 


CONFIDENCE  GAMES.  ETC. 


109 


self  to  have  been  wrecked  on  the  U.  S.  sloop  of  war  Ticonderoga, 
otF  Cape  Fear  River,  on  the  Tuesday  previous.  He  narrated  very 
minutely  the  particulars  of  the  wreck.  A  storm,  he  said,  had  com- 
menced on  tne  Sunday  previous,  the  5th  of  March,  which  lasted 
until  the  night  of  Tuesday,  when  the  vessel  «  as  driven  on  the  shoals, 
and  in  less  than  fifteen  minutes  had  seven  feet  of  water  in  the  hold  j 
that  finding  the  ship  to  be  fast  filling,  the  boats  were  lowered,  and 
at  the  same  time  the  masts  were  cut  away,  and  a  raft  was  constructed. 
The  boats  and  raft  held  all  of  the  crew  but  tho^-e  who  had  been  lost 
when  the  vessel  filled,  the  engineers  and  coal-heavers,  who  were 
below  ;  but  when  the  boats  were  cut  adrift  from  the  ship,  two  of 
them  were  stove  in,  and  some  of  the  men  in  them  were  drowned. 
The  filing  of  signal  rockets  was  seen  by  the  look-out  on  the  steamer 
ElUworth,  of  Boston,  and  the  officers  were  taken  on  board  of  her. 
All  of  this  time  the  wind  was  represented  to  be  blowing  furiously, 
and  the  night  so  dark  as  to  prevent  objects  from  being  sesn  a  few 
feet  off.  The  fellow  gave  some  of  the  names  of  the  men  drowned 
in  the  vessel,  and  told  the  name  of  the  Captain  of  the  Ticonderoga. 
His  stary  had  so  much  the  appearance  of  plausibility  that  no  one 
doubted,  until  he  stated  that  the  Ticonderoga  was  a  sidewheell 
steamer,  and  gave  eight  as  the  number  of  guns  she  carried,  both  of 
which  were  known  to  be  false.  The  fellow  was  asked  if  the  vessel 
was  in  the  attack  on  Fort  Fisher,  and  he  replied  that  she  was  not, 
but  that  he  and  some  others  of  the  crew  had  been  transferred  to  an- 
other ship  that  did  not  draw  so  much  water,  and  which  took  part 
in  the  bombardment.  The  story  proved  to  be  a  fabrication  from 
beginning  to  end.  No  doubt  the  object  of  the  impostor  was  to  ex- 
cite sympathy,  and  raise  funds,  as  he  was  very  particular  to  state 
that  he  had  lost  everything  by  the  wrecking  of  the  vessel.  Such  a 
fellow  deserves  a  good  kicking,  to  say  the  least  of  it— a  kicking  well 
planted  in. 

The  old  "  mock  auction"  dodge  is  about  played  out.  Occasionally 
we  hear  of  it,  but  not  often,  and  we  may  number  it  among  the 
things  of  the  past.  Many  anecdotes  might  be  told  of  this  defunct 
occupation,  but  our  space  is  limited,  and  the  trick  is  too  well  known 
to  need  description.  Among  the  last  of  the  victims  "  taken  in"  in 
this  city,  was  a  smart  Yankee  editor  who  had  often  cautioned  his 
readers  against  the  fraternity,  visited  New  York  and  dropped  in  at 
a  mock  auction  '*  just  for  the  fun  of  the  thing."  The  fun,  however, 
cost  our  friend  a  pretty  little  sum,  for  although  he  had  perhaps 
saved  his  readers  by  his  advice,  he  was  unable  to  save  himself — 
even  his  Yankee  shrewdness  being  no  match  for  Chatham  street  ro- 
guery. He  went  home  a  poorer  and  wiser  man,  and  is  careful  now 
how  he  enters  a  nest  of  thieves  "  for  the  fun  of  it" 

UNION  BKIIEF  ASSOCIATION. 

It  is  shameful  that,  under  the  guise  of  charity  and  benevolence, 
the  most  barefaced  and  outrageous  deceptions  should  be  practiced 
upon  those  who,  from  motives  of  charity,  are  disposed  to  aid  the 
families  of  the  brave  soldiers  who  have  given  up  their  lives  for  their 


110 


ROGUERIES  OF  NEW  YORK. 


country.    One  would  imagine  that  feeling  of  patriotism,  at  least. 

would  deter  even  the  most  inveterate  rascal  from  lining  his  own  pocket 
at  the  expense  of  those  placing  confidence  in  his  appeals  to  M  help 
the  widows  and  orphans  of  our  noble  volunteers."  Such,  however, 
would  appear  not  to  be  the  case,  judging  from  a  swindle  lately  per- 
petrated in  this  city,  Boston,  and  throughout  the  country,  under  the 
designation  of  and  pretence  of  W  's  "  25th  Grand  Gift  Distribu- 
tion for  the  benefit  of  the  Union  Relief  Association." 
The  following  is  from  the  prospectus  : 

u  At  the  request  of  a  number  of  manufacturers  of  New  England, 
I  have  concluded  to  give  the  profits  of  this  distribution  to  the  Sani- 
tary Commission,  to  be  used  for  the  benefit  of  our  brave  men  who 
have  defended  the  stars  and  stripes.  The  prizes  are  numbered  from 
one  to  a  thousand ;  tickets  correspond  with  these  numbers.  The 
prizes  are  of  all  kinds  and  of  different  value  ;  among  others  are  a 
house  and  lot  in  Boston  (worth  £5,000)  j  a  horse  and  buggy,  horse 
and  chaise,  five  pianos,  silver  tea  sets,  &c,  &c. ;  all  are  donated. 
The  distribution  will  be  made  on  the  15th  of  January,  1865,  whether 
all  or  only  a  portion  of  the  tickets  are  sold.  The  proceeds  will,  in 
all  cases,  be  sent  to  the  Governors  of  the  different  States,  to  be  by 
them  paid  over  to  the  Sanitary  Commission." 

What  could  be  fairer  than  this  ?  The  money  to  be  given  to  the 
Sanitary  Commission  by  the  Governors  of  the  States  ;  could  there 
be  deception  here,  people  reasoned.  Of  course  not.  Money  poured 
in  from  all  quarters  ;  tickets  were  forwarded  to  the  value  of  *  15,000, 
and  the  day  appointed  for  the  "  awards"  anxiously  awaited.  Even- 
tually it  came  and  passed,  but  no  distribution.  The  contributions 
were  coolly  pocketed  by  the  manager  or  managers  of  the  concern, 
who  quietly  decamped  with  their  ill-gotten  pelf.  Those  who  are 
expecting  their  gifts  will  have  to  u  take  it  out  in  waiting,"  and  the 
coffers  of  the  Sanitary  Commission  are  none  the  better  for  their  con- 
tributions. 


CHAPTER  XXYI. 

PROFESSIONAL  BEGGARS. 

As  swindling  seems  to  be  the  order  of  the  day,  it  must  not  sur- 
prise us  that  the  young  follow  the  example  set  by  older  heads.  A 
boy  of  fifteen  was  arrested  the  other  day  for  swindling,  by  collect- 
ing money  under  false  representations.  He  had  a  subscription 
book,  and  would  go  to  one  merchant  and  represent  that  another 
merchant  had  sent  him,  recommending  him  as  a  proper  object  of 
charity.  So  successful  was  he  that  he  collected  over  three  hundred 
dollars  in  three  weeks,  but  spent  it  as  fast  as  he  gathered  it.  His 
arrest  was  brought  about  in  a"  rather  singular  way.  While  on  a 
collecting  tour,  he  mentioned  to  a  merchant  of  whom  he  was  soli- 


PROFESSIONAL  BEGGARS. 


Ill 


citing  aid,  the  name  of  a  firm,  from  the  member?  of  which  he  had 
received  a-si-tance,  and  a  recommendation  also.  Foriunatcly  for 
the  public,  one  of  the  firm  was  at  hi.-:  elbow,  and  at  once  exposed 
the  cheat.  His  arrest  followed,  and  when  taken  before  A  der- 
maa  Welding  he  pretended  that  he  had  the  money  collected  at  home. 
This  proved  to  be  a  falsehood.  None  of  the  money  was  recovered. 
By  a  subsequent  confession  he  said  he  had  spent'fil'ty  dollars  at  a 
party- probably  one  of  those  assemblies  known  as  a  "dance," 
where  the  lowest  grade  of  society  gather  for  carousals. 

Nearly  all  beggais  and  those*  soliciting  charity  are  vagabonds, 
too  lazy" to  work,  who  find  it  a  profitable  business  to  prey  upon  the 
public  credulity.  In  every  large  city  the  pedestrian  will  meet  w  ith 
children  soliciting  M  a  penny  to  buy  a  loaf  of  bread,"  or  assistance 
for  a  mother  who  has  no  work,  and  who  has  not  had  food  for  the 
last  six  weeks"  (more  or  less).  These  children  often  take  in  several 
dollars  a  day,  and  the  money  is  generally  used  by  drunken  parents 
to  procure  liquor. 

The  beggars  who  visit  houses  in  search  of  cold  victuals,  are  in 
many  instances  mere  spys,  sent  by  professional  thieves  and  house- 
breakers to  ascertain  where  valuables  are  kept,  and  whatever  in- 
formation they  can  collect  that  would  be  valuable  should  their 
associates  desire  to  u  crack  the  crib."  In  other  cases  the  beggars 
are  "  sneak  thieves,"  and  seize  any  opportunity  offered  to  walk  off 
with  any  portable  property  they  may  be  able  to  lay  hands  upon. 
This  is  especially  Irue  of  those  who  visit  houses  in  the  country. 
Their  pitiful  stories  are  mere  fabrications,  to  gain  admittance.  The 
beggars  in  the  city  have  regular  routes,  and  respect  each  other's 
rights  faithfully.  The  practice  of  giving  food  to  these  persons  is  a 
verv  bad  one,  as  it  encourages  them  to  remain  paupers  ;  and  a  large 
number  of  offences  against  the  laws  are  committed  by  this  class, 
who,  if  left  to  support  themselves  by  honest  industry,  would  never 
appear  in  our  police  courts. 

We  recollect  a  little  chap,  aome  dozen  years  of  age,  who  went 
around  peddling  14  stationery  packets."  He  told  a  very  affecting 
story  of  his  father's  death,  his  mother's  reduced  circumstances,  ac- 
counted for  by  a  lawyer's  dishonesty,  and  his  own  endeavor  to  sup- 
port his  mother  and  little  brother  and  sister.  He  was  an  intelligent 
enterprising  little  fellow,  and  hundreds  of  persons,  wishing  to  en- 
courage him  in  his  noble  efforts,  bought  his  stationery,  and  he  drove 
a  thriving  trade.  This  boy's  story,  on  investigation,  turned  out  a 
complete  fabrication,  and  no  doubt  ft  large  proportion  of  similar 
cases  would  turn  out  likewise.  In  many  cases  children  are  in- 
structed in  these  stories  by  elder  persons,  and  their  youth  and 
apparent  sincerity  impose  on  people  who  would  be  proof  against 
the  wiles  of  older  rogues. 

The  woman  with  iiiaum erable  "small  families" — borrowed  or 
hired  for  the  business — ifi  often  to  be  met  with.  There  are,  how- 
ever many  real  cases  of  women  left  destitute,  with  small  children, 
and  we  would  not  discourage  charity  when  there  is  a  possibility 
that  the  recipient  is  worthy  of  it 
There  is  a  blind  man  in  Brooklyn  who  has  accumulated  eeveral 


112 


ROGUERIES  OF  NEW  YORK. 


toons  and  dollars  by  his  profession  of  begging.   Still,  one  deprived 

of  sight,  or  the  use  of  an  arm  or  leg,  is  often  obliged  to  depend  on 
public  charity  ;  and  unless  he  makes  his  calamity  a  stock  in  trade, 
and  is  evidently  a  vagabond,  assistance  may  often  be  judiciously 
rendered. 

There  is  a  man  in  this  city  whose  regular  business  it  is  to  write 
those  touching  narratives  of  shipwreck  and  disaster,  by  which  some 
beggars  work  upon  the  credulity  of  the  charitable.  When  beggars 
present  written  statements  of  their  woes  and  misfortunes,  you  may 
generally  conclude  them  to  be  false.  We  recollect  an  instance  of 
a  small  boy  who  obtained  one  of  these  narratives,  and,  without 
knowing  its  purport,  went  around  begging  on  the  strenght  of  it. 
After  considerable  effort,  without  satisfactory  results,  he  discovered 
that  he  had  been  representing  himself  as  the  widow  of  a  defunct 
fireman,  who  had  los^his  life  nobly  in  the  performance  of  his  duty  ; 
also  that  the  said  small  boy  was  the  mother  of  six  helpless  children, 
all  dependent  on  charity  for  support.  We  have  often  noticed  a 
Chinese  beggar,  squatted  on  the  sidewalk,  with  a  placard  announc- 
ing that  "  I  am  starving"  hung  to  his  breast,  while  his  hat,  placed 
on  the  pavement  for  contributions,  contained  enough  money  to  pur- 
chase a  dozen  substantial  meals. 

HEIRS  WANTED  FOB  A  LARGE  ESTATE. 

One  of  the  easiest  ways  to  procure  money  is  to  inherit  it,  and 
probably  few  persons  have  not  at  some  time  dreamed,  either  awake 
or  asleep,  of  a  fortune  left  for  their  enjoyment  by  some  unknown 
relative.  Occasionally  such  cases  have  actually  occurred,  and  be- 
ing duly  set  forth  in  the  newspapers,  have  added  stimulus  to  the 
imaginations  of  fortune  seekers.  Sharpers  have  not  left  this  field 
uuworked,  and  their  circulars  glitter  with  golden  hopes  for  those 
longing  for  easily  obtained  wealth.  One  professes  to  keep  a  regis- 
ter of  all  unclaimed  property  in  England,  to  which  register  access 
is  allowed  for  one  dollar.  Another  requests  all  families  of  a  certain 
name,  say  Smith,  to  communicate  with  him  concerning  a  large  estate 
to  which  the  Smith  family  are  heirs ;  of  course  a  small  fee  is  ex- 
pected if  paraculars  of  the  said  estate  are  required.  In  one  instance 
the  promised  estate  was  said  to  have  been  lying  unclaimed  in  Eng- 
land one  hundred  and  fifty  years.  There  would  be  about  as  much 
probability  of  heirs  in  this  country  realizing  from  such  a  property 
now,  as  there  would  of  recovering  Pharaoh's  crown  by  fishing  in 
the  Red  Sea,  The  circulars  containing  such  offers  are  worth  some- 
thing as  material  for  lamp-lighters,  but  very  little  for  acquiring 
wealth. 


COUNTERFEITING  AND  COUNTERFEITERS.  113 


CHAPTER  XXYIL 

ALL  ABOUT  COUNTERFEITING  AND  COUNTERFEITERS. 

"We  all  remember  how  suddenly  the  so-called  secession  of  the 
southern  States  was  followed  by  the  actual  withdrawal  of  silver  coin 
from  circulation.  Before  gold  was  at  a  premium  silver  was  scarce. 
It  was  more  widely  distributed  than  gold,  and,  consequently,  was 
easier  to  hoard.  It  went  from  pockets  into  purses,  from  drawers 
into  stockings,  and  the  gold  followed  the  silver.  Money — the 
sinews  of  war — demanded  "substitutes"  long  before  the  actual 
bone  and  muscle  were  brought  by  drafts  to  that  extremity.  With 
the  disappearance  of  silver  appeared  all  sorts  of  little  paper  prom- 
ises to  pay.  Retail  grocers,  barkeepers,  eating-house  keepers,  the 
butcher,  the  baker  and  candlestick  maker  all  issued  little  tickets, 
purporting  to  be  good  for  sums  varying  from  one  to  fifty  cents  ; 
but,  in  numerous  instances,  good  for  nothing,  and  certain  swindlers 
made  snug  little  fortunes  by  dealing  in  these  kind  of  "  goods." 
These  promises,  not  likely  in  all  cases  to  be  redeemed,  were  never 
popular,  and  postage-stamps,  which  represented  the  actual  value  of 
our  smaller  coins,  soon  became  the  only  circulating  medium  for  less 
values  than  the  dollar  bills  of  banks. 

A  more  inconvenient  substitute  for  silver  change  could  scarcely 
be  devised.  They  were  easily  defaced  and  mutilated.  Stamps 
obliterated  in  the  post-office  were  washed  and  used  as  currency. 
With  the  new  and  dirty  medium  sundry  small  jokes  were  put  in 
circulation.  People  were  "  stuck"  and  "  gummed"  in  making 
change  ;  it  was  a  change  which  was  not  reform  ;  maledictions  were 
poured  upon  the  venerable  head  of  Washington  :  the  papers  teemed 
with  *  itticisms  and  complaints  till  the  readers  cried  :  "  No  more  on 
that  head,  cnyhow." 

The  use  and  abuse  of  these  stamps,  however,  suggested  the  issue 
of  the  postal  or  fractional  currency.  The  first  fractional  notes,  in- 
deed, were  fac  similes  of  the  postage  stamps.  The  single  head  was 
copied  from  the  stamp,  printed  on  larger  paper  aud  surrounded  by 
a  few  simple  securities  and  ornamental  lines.  Their  very  simplicity, 
as  in  the  case  of  the  bank  of  England  notes,  was  their  chief  security. 
The  single  head  at  once  attracted  attention,  and  its  superior  execu- 
tion required  ability  and  talent  beyond  that  of  ordinary  counter- 
feiters. The  very  few  counterfeits  attempted  upon  this  issue  were 
so  inferior  that  they  were  readily  detected. 

COUNTERFEITERS  AS  A  CLASS. 

Engravers  as  a  class  are  men  who  take  a  particular  pride  in  their 
profession,  and  their  business  employs  and  requires  a  superior  order 
of  talent.  They  are  exceedingly  well  paid  for  their  work,  are  gen- 
erally men  who  are  satisfied  with  a  good  salary  and  permanent 
situation,  and  they  do  not  look  forward  to  making  fortunes.   It  is 


114 


ROGUERIES  OF  NEW  YORK. 


extremely  difficult  to  believe  that  inducements  can  be  held  out  to 
any  good  engraver  who  has  an  assured  and  respectable  position  to 
become  a  counterfeiter.  Nevertheless  it  is  quite  obvious  that  a 
very  few  of  these  men  do  become  counterfeiters.  It  is  said  that 
one  engraver,  who  was  employed  in  the  Treasury  Department  in 
"Washington,  devoted  his  leisure  hours  to  the  engraving  of  two  frac- 
tional currency  plates  for  "  outside  parties,"  who  were  detected  and 
the  plates  were  secured.  The  latest  and  altogether  the  most  impor- 
tant arrest  that  has  been  made  in  this  vicinity  was  that  of  Jerry 
Cowsden,  who  is  spoken  of  as  "  a  very  talented  engraver,"  and 
others  have  been  arrested  whose  work  would  suggest  (in  case  of 
their  pardon  after  conviction)  their  immediate  employment  in  the 
Treasury  Department. 

But  the  majority  of  counterfeiters  in  this  country  are  believed  to 
be  foreigners,  generally  Englishmen,  Germans  and  Italians,  who 
have  learned  their  business  abroad  and  have  come  here  for  the 
express  purpose  of  engaging  in  counterfeiting.  There  is  now  and 
then  a  young  man  who  has  learned  the  rudiments  of  the  profession 
in  a  large  establishment,  and  who  from  bad  habits,  negligence  or 
other  fault,  loses  his  place.  He  falls  into  the  hands  of  what  may  be 
called,  considering  the  kind  of  work  contemplated,  "designing" 
men.  They  set  him  to  copying  on  steel  a  twenty-five  or  fifty'cent 
fractional  note.  There  is  nothing  in  the  work,  excepting  the  vig- 
nette head,  that  requires  any  special  talent,  and  the  merest  tyro, 
with  a  slight  acquaintance  with  the  use  of  the  graver  and  acids,  can 
execute  the  surrounding  lines  and  letters.  But  in  this  case,  with  a 
single  specimen  before  him,  and  with  the  inducement  held  out,  the 
young  engraver  bends  all  his  energies  to  produce  as  perfect  a  speci- 
men as  he  possibly  can,  and  the  result  is  generally  a  piece  of  work 
that  surprises  himself,  and  certainly  would  astonish  those  who  only 
knew  him  as  an  idler  who  did  not  seem  to  care  to  learn  his  business. 

This  estimate  of  the  class  of  persons  engaged  in  the  manufacture 
of  spurious  currency  is  partly  conjectured,  and  is  mainly  based 
upon  a  careful  examination  of  different  specimens  of  counterfeit 
notes.  Some  of  the  notes  are  superior,  and  are  from  the  hands  of 
practiced  engravers  ;  others  are  evidently  the  work  of  men  who 
would  scarcely  find  employment  even  in  Washington  ;  but  all  of  them 
are  "  passably"  good — they  must  be  that  to  be  good  for  anything,  and 
it  must  be  remembered  that  those  who  engage  in  the  business  are 
themselves  experts,  and  they  would  not  deal  in  a  counterfeit  cur- 
rency that  was  not  likely  to  deceive  ordinary  observers.  We  speak 
of  the  "  business,"  for  it  is  a  complete,  well-organized  and  systema- 
tic business,  with  its  manufacturers,  dealers,  agents  and  customers. 

THE  BUSINESS. 

The  business  of  counterfeiting  is  not  only  done  on  an  extensive 
scale,  but  necessarily  "  on  the  sly."  The  engraving  is  generally 
done  in  some  quiet,  out  of-the-way  village  in  ]Sew  Jersey,  in  West- 
chester county,  or  over  on  Long  Island,  and  the  manufacturers  are 
birds  of  passage,  who  change  their  quarters  as  the  spirit  or  the  curi- 


COUNTERFEITING  AND  COUNTERFEITERS . 


115 


osity  of  the?  detectives  move?  them.  The  capital  required  to  carry 
on  the  business  is  from  Bfteen  hundred  to  five  thousand  dollais,  ac- 
OordiHg  to  the  amount  of  tools  and  machinery  employed  in  getting 
up  the  plates.  Oue  nun,  with  a  single  assistant,  can  do  very  well. 
In  this  case  a  single  plate,  or,  at  most,  two  are  engraved  on  one 
piece  of  steel,  and  the  entire  wori  Is  done  by  hand. 

We  have  seen,  however,  seta  of  plates  of  the  denomination  of 
twent\-tive  and  tit'ty-cent3,y<ic  stmiUs  of  the  government  plaies,  each 
plate 'printing  twenty  notes  at  once,  and  the  manufacture  of  these 
required  all  the  facilities  that  are  in  possession  of  the  Government 
"When  these  were  seized  the  detectives  found  the  lathes,  dies  for 
transfers,  and  all  the  tools  and  acids  necessary  for  a  first-rate  estab- 
lishment. The  counterfeiters  find  no  difficulty  in  picking  up  the  re- 
quired materials  in  different  parts  of  the  city."  There  ought  to  be  a 
difficulty  in  getting  the  bank-note  paper  on  which  the  bills  are 
printed  ;  but  it  is  quite  evident  that  it  can  be  bought,  though  the 
detectives  have  not  yet  discovered  how  or  where  the  counterfeiters 
purchase  it 

Sometimes  the  counterfeiter's  place  of  business  is  covered  by  a 
legitimate  card  or  music  engraving  office,  but  generally  the  work  is 
done  in  some  secret  and  unsuspected  spot,  with  no  outward  and 
visible  sign  of  any  business  whatever. 

THE  DEALERS  AXD  THEIR  CUSTOMERS. 

The  dealers  are  the  most  mischievous,  and  the  most  difficult  to 
reach,  of  all  who  are  connected  with  counterfeiting.  New  York  is 
their  headquarters.  They  have  their  agents,  confederates  and  cus- 
tomers in  every  city  in  the  country.  The  circulation  of  the  postal 
currency  is  universal,  and  so  soon  as  a  successful  counterfeit  is  made, 
large  quantities  are  sent  to  all  points  in  the  country  ;  the  mails  and 
expresses  are  made  the  meJiuni  for  exportation  from  this  city  ;  the 
counterfeits  are  put  in  circulation  simultaneously  in  different  sec- 
tions, and,  if  tbftiv  are  good  imitations,  they  are""  shoved"'  in  enor- 
mous quantities  before  they  are  detected. 

The  West  is  the  great  market  for  these  spurious  issues.  There  is 
not  a  city,  scarcely  a  town,  without  its  agent,  and  he  knows  his 
customers,  coolly  calculates  the  question  of  supply  and  demand, 
and  does  a  lively  business.  Estimating  the  counterfeits  at  one-third 
of  the  whole  amount  of  postal  currency  in  circulation,  the  West  has 
its  full  share  of  that  third — indeed,  it  is  a  common  remark  out  west, 
that  the  counterfeits,  for  all  ordinary  purposes,  are  quite  as  good  as 
the  genuine  notes. 

There,  as  at  the  East,  the  customers  may  be  classed  as  follows: 
The  small  corner  grocers,  who  buy  the  counterfeits  for  the  very  con- 
venient purpose  of  making  change  to  their  customers  j  the  barkeep- 
ers, who  can  easily  work  oft  more  or  less  of  this  sort  of  change  upon 
their  more  or  less  inebriated  patrons  wbo  are  not  particular  what 
they  u  take"  from  the  counter,  or  from  behind  it  j  stage-drivers, 
canal-men,  butchers,  drovers,  pedlars  and  other  itinerants  can  use 
this  stuff  to  a  considerable  amount,  and  some  of  it  is  worked  off  at 


116 


ROGUERIES  OF  NEW  YORK. 


the  doors  of  country  shows  when  people  pressing  in  are  more  eager 
to  secure  a  front  seat  than  careful  to  note  the  quality  gf  their  change. 
Of  course  we  are  speaking  only  of  certain  persons  in  these  kinds  of 
business. 

THE  PROFITS  OF  THE  BUSINESS. 

The  counterfeiter  estimates  among  his  profits  the  simplicity  and 
cheapness  of  his  tools,  if  he  only  intends  to  make  a  plate  or  two  : 
the  facility  with  which  the  notes  can  be  circulated  ;  the  extent  and 
universality  of  the  circulation  of  the  genuine  notes,  inducing  a  gen- 
eral carelessness  as  to  their  character  ;  the  chances  of  avoiding  de- 
tection in  his  business ;  the  chances  of  escape  or  non-conviction  ; 
•end  the  direct  profit  derived  from  the  work  itself.  To  the  manufac- 
turer it  is  not,  on  the  whole,  a  paying  business.  Those  who  have 
been  arrested  present  no  indication  of  unusual  prosperity,  and  they 
say  they  have  barely  made  a  living.  They  make  the  plate  or  plate3 
and  the  dealers-  make  the  money,  paying  the  engraver  about  the 
same  sum,  or  a  little  less,  than  he  could  have  earned  in  an  honest 
manner. 

Before  the  counterfeits  are  put  in  circulation  they  go  through  so 
many  hands,  and  there  are  so  many  partners  in  the  scheme,  that  the 
individual  profits  are  quite  small.  The  dealers  get  from  thirty  to 
forty-five  dollars  on  the  hundred,  and  of  course  the  small  users,  who 
receive  or  expect  to  get  the  full  represented  value  of  the  note,  pay 
proportionately  larger  prices.  As  there  is  no  redemption,  beyond 
the  actual  cost  of  the  plate  and  materials  employed  in  the  manufac- 
ture, it  is  all  profit,  as  the  bills  pass  from  hand  to  hand.  But  con- 
sidering the  risks,  the  detectives  have  not  yet  caught  the  counter- 
feiter who  would,  or  could,  under  the  circumstances,  admit  that  he 
had  done  a  paying  business. 

SUCCESSFUL  COUNTERFEITS. 

The  successful  counterfeits,  that  is  those  which  have  really  paid 
the  dealers  and  designers,  rank  as  follows:  First/ the  postal  cur- 
rency ;  next,  the  national  bank  bills  ;  and  last  and  least,  the  legal 
tenders.  Let  us  duly  praise  the  greenbacks.  There  has  never  been 
a  paper-money  issue  so  extensive  and  yet  in  point  of  execution  so 
nearly  perfect.  The  novelty  of  their  design,  the  ease  with  which 
they  are  recognized,  the  difficulty,  almost  impossibility  of  altering 
them  from  one  denomination  to  another,  the  excellence  of  the  en- 
graving, and  the  green  tint  which  prevents  their  photography,  are 
all  nearly  certain  securities  against  counterfeits. 

But  they  have  been  counterfeited.  The  one  hundred-dollar  green- 
back was  so  successfully  copied  in  St  Louis,  that  the  government 
made  special  efforts  to  catch  the  counterfeiter,  and  actually  did  so, 
and  secured  the  plate  before,  it  is  believed,  one  hundred  of  the 
notes  were  put  in  circulation.  Two  or  three  attempts  have  been 
made  upon  the  fifties  ;  one  very  good  fifty  is  now  in  circulation  to  a 
limited  extent,  and  the  counterfeiter  has  not  yet  been  caught  The 
ones  have  been  counterfeited,  but  poorly,  and  all  of  the  few  green- 
back counterfeits  can  be  easily  detected  by  careful  examination. 


COUNTERFEITING  AND  COUNTERFEITERS.  117 


The  national  bank  notes  do  not  combine  the  same  securities,  and 
are  more  easily  and  generally  counterfeited.  The  fives  can  be  alter- 
ed with  little  trouble  to  fifties,  and  few  people  think  of  looking  at 
the  distinctive  picture  on  the  back  of  the  note,  designed  to  mark  the 
different  denominations.  Like  the  postal  currency,  the  national 
bank  issues  are  liable  to  counterfeit  from  their  universal  circulation. 
It  will  pay  counterfeiters  to  take  special  pains  in  the  preparation  of 
a  bill  that  can  be  circulated  everywhere  from  New  York  to  New 
Orleans,  and  which  will  not  be  subjected  to  the  scrutiny  attending 
the  issue  of  counterfeits  upon  local  banks,  and  which  must  neces- 
sarily be  used  where  the  genuine  bills  are  in  circulation.  The  cases 
thus  far  have  been  very  rare,  and  it  is  not  known  that  any  national 
bank  bills,  not  genuine  are  in  circulation,  excepting  a  few  altera- 
tions from  one  denomination  to  another. 

The  most  successful  counterfeiter  was  the  notorious  Jerry  Cows- 
den,  who  executed  a  counterfeit  of  the  fifty  cent  note  so  skillfully 
that  it  could  not  be  distinguished  from  the  genuine.  He  was  arrested 
some  time  since,  but  before  his  arrest  he  had  succeeded  in  putting 
into  circulation  uywards  of  *5,000  of  the  bogus  notes.  So  excellent 
were  the  counterfeits  that  the  notes  will  probably  pass  the  same  as 
the  genuine,  and  even  be  redeemed  eventually. 

CATCHING  COUNTERFEITERS. 

The  general  plan  of  proceeding  is  as  follows  :  The  Police  Super- 
intendent has  the  supervision  of  the  matter  in  connection  with  the 
United  States  Marshal.  When  a  counterfeiter  is  to  be  followed  up 
Mr.  Kennedy  assigns  one  or  more  detectives  to  the  business,  and 
Mr.  Murray  makes  them,  for  the  time,  his  deputies.  Of  course  there 
is  a  starting-point — one  end  of  the  long  thread  to  be  unravelled. 
Thieves  fall  ou*;  among  themselves,  and  so  occasionally  do  counter- 
feiters. The  Marshal  or  the  Superintendent  gets  an  anonymous,  or 
perhaps  a  signed  note,  informing  him  that  a  certain  individual  in 
such  a  place  is  engaged  in  counterfeiting.  The  machinery  for  de- 
tection is  at  once  put  in  motion,  and  the  given  clew  is  followed  till 
it  ends  in  the  arrest  of  the  criminal,  or  in  nothing 

For,  of  the  numerous  communications  sent  to  the  authorities  ad- 
vising them  to  watch  certain  men,  not  one  in  ten  ever  amounts  to 
anything.  They  are  frequently  prompted  by  malice  and  the  desire 
to  annoy  some  one  by  police  espionage  or  an  unjust  arrest.  Of  all 
the  counterfeit  cases  that  have  been  brought  to  the  notice  of  the 
police  in  the  ;ast  four  years,  only  five  or  six  have  been  brought  to  a 
satisfactory  conclusion.  It  took  several  months  to  work  up  two  of 
the  most  important  cases,  and  in  every  instance  the  capture  was 
complete,  comprising  the  plates,  tools,  machinery  and  criminals. 

The  men  detailed  go  prepared  for  any  emergency  or  resistance, 
and  have  full  authority  to  do  all  that  may  be  necessary  in  the 
"  premises."  to  the  extent  of  breaking  in  and  searching  thoroughly 
in  all  suspected  spots.  The  marshal  lends  valuable  assistance;  tabes 
care  of  the  counterfeiters  when  caught,  keeps  all  the  plates,  "  traps" 
and  tools  till  the  trial  is  over,  and  the  prisoner,  if  convicted,  is  sent 


118 


ROGUERIES  OF  NEW  YORK. 


to  Sing  Sing,  while  the  plates  are  sent  to  the  Treasury  Department 
in  Washington. 

POLICE  PRECAUTION'S. 

Although  New  York  is  the  centre  for  counterfeiting  operations, 
the  city  is  singularly  free  from  the  circulation  of  bad  bills.  Previ- 
ous to  1857  the  city  was  fairly  inundated  with  counterfeits.  The 
precaution — almost  preventive — was  then  adopted  of  notifying  by 
telegraph  every  police  station  in  the  city  the  moment  a  bad  bill  was 
put  in  circulation,  and  the  patrolmen  warn  every  shop,  store  and 
saloon-keeper  on  their  beats.  This  is  often  done  before  a  well-exe- 
cuted counterfeit  makes  its  appearance  ;  it  has  been  put  in  circula- 
tion in  Boston  or  Philadelphia,  the  department  here  has  been  noti- 
fied by  telegraph,  every  police  precinct  has  the  information,  every 
patrolman  tells  the  story,  and  every  tradesman  is  forewarned  and 
thus  forearmed  hours  perhaps  before  the  bill  is  actually  put  in  cir- 
culation in  this  city.  This  plan  is  in  such  successful  operation  that 
the  extensive  circulation  of  counterfeits  in  this  city  is  almost  impos- 
sible. The  old  method  was  to  "  pipe"  the  circulators  from  place  to 
place,  giving  them  meanwhile  the  opportunity  to  get  rid  of  a  num- 
ber of  bad  bills.  But  the  new  mode  is  based  upon  the  principle 
that  it  is  better  to  prevent  crime  than  to  punish  it. 


THE  END. 


MERRYMAN'S  MONTHLY  FOR  SEPTEMBER. 


This  number  will  "be  found  unusually  attractive.  Among  tho  con- 
tents may  be  mentioned,  "  Ccmic  Lie  of  P.  T.  Barnum,"  written  in 
a  most  pmusing  style,  *hemn  1he  principal  events  cf  bis  life,  frcra, 
birtb  to  the  present  day,  ;ire  given,  and  all  hi^  various  Humbugs  ex- 
posed. Also  a  mirth  prr  viking  article  on  "  The  Hair  and  its  Many 
Friends,"  which  will  le  inter*  sting  to  the  ladies  who  will  be  r.bio  to 
understand  it,  and  gentlemen  who  wc  n't.  Then  there  is  a  fumy 
article  entitled  M  Cum-cher-cr.m  '  by  a  favorite  ladv  v. liter,  who 
now  appears  for  the  first  (but  ne  t  the  last,  we  hepe)  time  in  cur 
columns.  "Flow  my  Fate  was  Blighted,''  cf  special  interest  to 
"  c.-p'  ony*'  young  men  addicted  to  poetic  effusions.  A  spirited  cc  m:o 
d""iblo  pngo  engraving,  representing  Earnum's  curiosities  thrown 
out  of  employment  by  the  burning  of  the  Museum.  This  picture  is 
one  of  the  most  ludicrously  tunny  things  ever  seen,  and  will  please 
all  lovers  cf  unnatural  natural  history. 

11  How  to  Construct  a  Punch  and  Judy  Show."  at  a  trifling  expense, 
so  clearly  described  that  any  boy  can  get  up  the  show,  with  dialogue, 
etc.,  complete,  as  exhibited  by  tho  London  showmen. 

A  funny  "  pome"  by  Miles  O'Keilly ,  and  a  number  not  by  him,  ap- 
pear. 

The  Prize  Puzzle  this  month  is  easier  than  usual,  so  all  have  a 
chance  to  pain  a  Greenback  prize  ;  Piizes  are  also  oflered  for  Original 
Puzzles.  Of  course,  tho  Puzzle  Department  contains  the  usual  choico 
and  entertaining  assortment  of  enigmas,  charades,  riddles,  conun- 
drums, etc.  This  department  is  very  attractive,  and  is  contributed 
to  by  hundreds  of  talented  puzzlers  in  all  parts  of  the  country. 

"  Our  Sanctum,''  with  its  entertaining  and  lively  letters  fr<  m  wide- 
awake correspondents  is  always  read  with  interest,  and  is  this  month 
full  up  to  tho  mark. 

In  addition  to  the  special  features  which  have  giv.  n  Hebbykam  its 
great  popularity,  the  reader  will  find  hundreds  cf  amusing  stories, 
jokes,  anecdotes,  jests  and  witticisms,  etc.,  illustrated  with  a  large 
number  of  first  class  engravings. 

*S~  A 11  who  have  not  yet  become  acquainted  with  Mekryman  will 
find  the  present  an  excellent  time  to  de>  so.  Sold  by  all  newsdealers 
at  15  cents  a  copy,  or  will  be  sent,  postpaid,  on  receipt  of  price.  Wo 
never  6end  gratuitous  specimens  under  any  circums+ances.  Terms, 
per  annum,  $1,25,  in  advance.  Club  of  three,  $3.  Club  of  five  and 
one  free  to  the  getter  up,  $5. 

j83~Three  specimens  (as  samples)  sent  postpaid  for  30  cents. 
Address  J.  C.  HANEY  &  CO..  Publishers, 

1C9  Nassau  street,  N.  Y. 

"  We  suppose  people  must  laugh.  If  they  feel  that  they  must,  they 
had  better  laugh  over  Mebryman  than  over  the  vulgar  trash  which 
frequently  pas  esfor  wit." — Presby'erian  Standard,  Philadtlphia. 

u  Mcrkyman's  Monthly  is  the  greatest  comic  work  now  published. 
Tho  August  number  contains  some  mirth-provoking  and  side-splitting 
Illustrations.  In  the  next  number  will  be  published  a  burlesquo  lite 
of  the  great  showman,  P.T.  Barnum.'"—  Columbia,  Pa.,  Spy. 

"  Mekkyman's  Monthly  with  its  customary  budget  of  droll  payings, 
pungent  witticisms,  and  telling  caricatures,  is  on  hand.  In  our 
humble  opinion  it  is  the  best  comic  monthly  published."— Pising  Sun, 
Iiid.,  Observer, 


The  large  and  rapidly  increasing  circulation  which  Mekrymajt 
has  attained,  as  well  as  the  flattering  expressions  of  praise  from 
the  public  and  the  press,  shows  that  our  attempt  to  furnish  a  first 
class  humorous  publication,  free  from  all  that  is  low  or  vulgar, 
meets  with  approval.  We  would  respectfully  request  those  who 
may  not  yet  have  become  acquainted  with  our  Magazine,  to  procure 
a  single  copy  and  judge  its  merits  for  themselves. 


A  FEW  OPINIONS  OF  THE  PRESS. 

M  We  are  glad  to  notice  improvement  in  Merryman's  Monthly,  the  July  number 
is  decidedly  the  best  we  have  seen,  containing  many  popular  illustrations,  sharp 
hits,  and  a  goodly  proportion  of  original  matter.  It  commenced  a  burlesque 
biography  cf  Jefferson  Davis  by  McArone.  with  pictures  to  match  ;  has  a  series  ol 
Lrrore^que  illus-trat'wms  of  "  Waterfalls  "  in  the  country— not  waterfalls  like  Niagara, 
but  the  other  kind— besides  many  other  things,  humorous  aud  laughable.  It  is 
published  by  J.  C.  Hancy  &  Co.,  and  sold  by  the  American  News  Company."— 
Brooklyn  Daily  Union. 

"  Merryman's  Monthly,  for  April,  is,  as  usual,  a  laughter  provoking,  comic 
visitor.  A Laugh  and  be  fat,"  is  an  old  maxim,  and  we  would  "prescribe"  to 
lank,  thin  specimens  of  humanity  the  trial  of  a  few  numbers  of  Merryman." — 
Hudson  (Mich.)  Weekly  Herald. 

"Merryman's  Monthly  is  the  merriest  periodical  afloat.  Abounding  in  witti- 
cisms and  striking  carricatures  it  is  a  jolly  companion  at  all  times.  We  commend 
it  to  the  lovers  of  fun."— Rising  Sun  (Ind.)  Observer  and  Recorder. 

"  Merryman's  Monthly  is  the  greatest  comic  work  now  published.  The  Au- 
gust number  contains  some  mirth-provoking  and  side-splitting  illustrations."— 
Columbia  Pa.,  Spy. 

••  We  suppose  people  must  laugh.  If  they  feel  that  they  must,  they  had  better 
laugh  over  Merryman  than  over  the  vulgar  trash  which  frequently  passes  for 
w  i  t . " — Ph  Uadelph  io  Presbyterian  Standard. 


Merryman  is  sold  by  all  newsdealers  and  booksellers  throughout 
the  United  States  and  British  Possessions.  Price  15  cents  per  copy, 
except  in  very  distant  parts  of  the  country,  where  a  higher  price  is 
charged'  to  cover  extra  freight.    We  mail  it  promptly  from  the  office 


of  publication  at  the  following  terms : 

One  Copy,  One  Year,  -----  $1*25 
One  Copy,  Six  Months.  ----- 

Two  Copies,  One  Year,  -----  2.25 

T/n  ee  Copies,     "                -----  s.00 

Five  Copies,  (and  one  free  to  getter  up  of  Club,)  -  5,00 


fcW  Single  Copies  mailed  post  paid  only  on  receipt  of  price.  Three 
different  numbers  as  specimens  sent  free  of  postage  for  30  cents 
Address  all  orders  to  . 

J.  C.  HANEY  &  CO.,  Publishers, 

No.  109  NASSAU  STREET,  NEW  YORK, 

E3f~  Twenty-Five  Dollars,  cash,  will  be  given  for  Original  Con- 
undrums. For  full  particulars  as  to  what  is  wanted,  etc.,  see  the 
September  and  October  Numbers. 


SECRETS  WORTH  KNOWING. 

A complete  hand-book  of  useful  knowledge.  Contains  innumer- 
able recipes  for  the  manufacture  of  all  kinds  of  useful  articles, 
including  Patent  Medicines,  Perfumery,  Hair  Oils,  Pomatums,  Dyes, 
Restoratives,  Powders,  Washes,  Cements  for  filling  Teeth,  Cosmetics, 
Toilet  Articles,  Common  and  Fancy  Soaps,  Popular  Beverages,  in- 
cluding a  large  number  of  delicious  ones  just  suited  to  the  bot 
weather,  healthful  and  cheap,  Candies  of  all'kinds,  including  all  the 
new  and  popular  kinds,  Recipes  for  Housekeepers,  Hundreds  of 
Useful  Articles  which  are  needed  in  every  household,  and  a  large 
number  of  articles  that  can  be  manufactured  and  sold  at  a  good  profit. 
This  is  no  cheap  trash  like  many  works  that  have  been  irened, 
but  a  carefully  compiled  volume  of  100  pages,  in  neat  form  for 
preservation.  It  will  be  found  of  great  value  for  reference,  as  you 
can  find  recipes  on  almost  every  subject  on  which  you  desire  to  be 
posted.   Price  only  25  cents. 

The  value  of  this  book  may  be  judged  from  the  fact  that  single 
recipes  contained  therein  are  sold  at  from  25  cents  to  $5,  and  in 
some  instances  even  more.  Thousands  of  persons  are  making 
money  by  the  manufacture  of  articles,  recipes  for  which  will  be 
found  in  this  book ;  witness  the  success  of  Spalding's  Glue,  the 
various  roofing  cement,  indellible  inks,  cordials,  and  the  innumer- 
able articles  which  even  body  needs  and  will  buy,  and  which  can 
be  manufactured  and  sold  at  a  good  profit.  We  have  no  wish  to 
exaggerate— we  do  not  offer  any  one  a  "  fortune  for  25  cents" — but 
we  do  offer  to  tell  our  readers  how  things  can  be  made  at  small  cost, 
which  are  selling  every  day  in  all  parts  of  the  country  for  five  or 
ten  times  their  original  cost.  A  man  of  our  acquaintance  in  this 
city  is  making  several  thousand  dollars  a  year  by  making  Lemon- 
syrup.  "  Secrets  Worth  Knowing"  will  tell  you  how  to  make  it. 
We  might  multiply  instances,  but  have  not  room. 

"Secrets  Worth  Knowing.7' — We  have  received  this  popular 
hand-book  of  universal  knowledge.  It  contains  over  2000  valuable 
receipts.  It  is  also  a  reliable  guide  for  the  preparation  of  all  kinds 
of  medicine.  The  remarkable  cheapness  of  the  work  places  it 
within  the  reach  of  all.  Price  25  cents.  Wm.  U.  Hess  has  it  for 
sale. —  Columhw*  Penn  ,  Spy. 

"  Secrkt*  Worth  Knowtng." — A  pamphlet  with  this  title,  contain- 
ing over  two  thousand  recipes  for  articles  in  various  branches  of 
manufacture,  some  of  them  extremely  valuable,  all  afforded  for  the 
low  price  of  twenty-five  cents,  has  been  published  by  J.  C.  Haney 
&  Co.,  109  Nassau  street,  N.  Y. — Brooklyn  Daily  Union. 

The  book  can  be  had  of  any  Bookseller  or  Newsdealer,  or 
we  will  send  a  copy,  post-paid,  to  any  address,  for  25  cents. 

Dealers  will  find  it  a  quick-selling  work.  Trade  supplied  by  all 
wholesale  houses. 

Wholesale  and  retail  cash  orders  will  be  attended  to  promptly. 

J  C.  HANEY  &  CO., 

Publishers, 

•  No.  109  Nassau  Street,  New  York. 


JAY  IRVING  COLLEOTION 


JAY  IRVING  COLLEOTION 


mm 


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